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

Abstract

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