Irrigated agriculture produces one third of the world’s crop yield and half of the return from global crop production. Yet, in many parts of the world, the future of irrigated agriculture is threatened by the existing or expected shortage of fresh water. The use of treated wastewater can afford a highly effective and sustainable strategy to exploit a water resource in areas afflicted by water scarcity.
Treated Wastewater in Agriculture is broadly divided into two sections. The first includes four chapters covering technical, health, regulatory and economic aspects of treated wastewater reuse, including step-by-step details of the treatment of municipal sewage effluents. The book’s second section covers the impacts of irrigation with treated wastewater on the agricultural ecosystems, considering elements including nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium, chloride, boron and heavy metals, the effects of salinity and organic material, and soil microbiology.
Compiled by a team from the world-renowned Agricultural Research Organization at the Volcani Center in Israel, and including chapters from many of the world’s leading researchers in this subject, Treated Wastewater in Agriculture is an essential purchase for agricultural and plant scientists, environmental biologists and soil scientists. Professionals working in the water treatment and irrigation industries, including engineers and public health workers, will find much of great use within this excellent book. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where biological and environmental sciences, and agriculture are studied and taught, should have copies of this landmark publication on their shelves.
