Electrical Conductivity, pH and other soil chemical parameters after sub-irrigation with untreated and treated municipal wastewater in two different soils.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of sub-irrigation with untreated and treated municipal wastewater on soil chemical parameters. Three treatments were used: untreated wastewater (U), treated wastewater (T) and tap water (W), being the control treatment, in two soil types, Sandy loam (SL) and Loamy sand (LS). A sub-irrigation system including pots filled with soil was installed in one of the greenhouses of the Agricultural University of Athens. The wastewater used was applied in the soil in pots at a depth of 10cm and 20cm. In order to determine the changes of chemical parameters at the point where the emitter was placed, the soil was divided into two zones according to depth: (zone I -upper) and (zone II-lower). The pH, CaCO3 %, K μg/g, Na μg/g, P μg/g and EC μmhos/cm, were determined. Statistically significant differences (p <0, 05) in sodium Na+ μg/g and electrical conductivity EC were observed, only in LS soil. Phosphorus and sodium increased in zone (I) for SL soil (p <0, 05). Electrical conductivity and potassium increased in zone (I), while CaCO3% and pH increased in zone (II) for LS soil (P <0, 05).