Evaluation of the effects of industrial wastewater on soil properties and land desertification

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

2 Senior expert of arid land management, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

During past decades, increased wastewater production by human activities intensified the problem of wastewater use
without causing undesirable impacts on the environment and human life. However, practice of wastewater use in
irrigation crops and green spaces needs careful control because of the potential presence of unwanted constituents such as
heavy metals and organic contaminants. This research was designed to evaluate the effects of industrial wastewater on
soil properties in Yazd, Iran. For this purpose, two plots were prepared and irrigated for five years, one with industrial
wastewater and the other with local groundwater. Finally, soil samples collected from both plots were analyzed in
laboratory and important factors and elements including EC, pH, SAR, K, N, P, Ca, Pb, Fe, Cd, CaCO3 and OC (organic
carbon) which are important in soil degradation and land desertification were determined. According to the results
obtained from this research it should be reported that this type of wastewater may cause soil degradation due to increasing
SAR, EC, pH and Pb and also decreasing N, K and OC. It is clear that soil degradation is the main factor which causes
and accelerates the process of desertification.

Keywords

Desert
Volume 13, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
December 2008
Pages 203-210

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