干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Water shortage in the arid and semi-arid areas of the world has resulted in the increased demand of municipal wastewater application for agriculture. The salinization of an agricultural soil due to irrigation with municipal wastewater, as well as with surfactants. was assessed by column leaching experiments. Leachates and soil samples were analyzed for salt content, by measuring electrical conductivity. and for soluble Na, Ca and Mg. All applied fluids (distilled water. hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, Aerosol 22, and municipal wastewater) lixiviated Mg and to a larger extent Ca from the column profile. Soil and leachates conductivity and Na content were significantly greater after irrigation with municipal wastewater and the anionic surfactant, Aerosol 22. while hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide only increased conductivity but reduced Na content. Municipal wastewater, with lower surfactant content. had the greatest effect on leachate and soil salinization and sodification thus other constituents present in the wastewaters influenced its behaviour.