GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES OF PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM GLAUCUM [L.] R.BR.) IRRIGATED WITH TREATED EFFLUENT FROM WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS

Abstract

Shortage of fresh water is a worldwide problem, particularly in the tropics. Treated wastewater can be utilized not only as irrigation water but also to serves as a liquid fertilizer. The effect of treated effluent from waste stabilization ponds and equivalent basal fertilizer on growth, yield and nutritive quality of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R.Br.) was investigated under field conditions. The N, P and K levels in treated effluent were monitored over the entire experimental period. Treated effluent significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index and the dry matter yield per hectare. By contrast, basal fertilizer did not significantly improve these parameters. Among the nutritive characteristics, only crude protein content was markedly increased by the effluent. Other nutritive qualities remained uninfluenced by both treated effluent and the basal fertilizer. The study demonstrated that treated effluent can be successfully used for unrestricted irrigation in the water deficient tropical and subtropical areas thereby saving huge quantities of fresh water.