Effects of treated municipal wastewater on fluctuation trend of leaf area index and quality of maize (Zea mays)

The effect of primary-treated municipal wastewater (TMWW) on the leaf area index (LAI) and quality of maize (Zea mays) was studied in comparison to the clean irrigation water (control). The experiment was based on a randomized block design with four replicates, and it was conducted in a field experiment in Aligoudarz (Iran). Irrigation was applied with five different methods as treatments: T1: irrigation with clean water during whole growing period (control); T2: 75% clean water and 25% TMWW; T3: 50% clean water and 50% TMWW; T4: 25% clean water and 75% TMWW; T5: irrigation with TMWW during whole growing period. Results showed that irrigation with TMWW had a significant positive impact on all characters compared with the control. Maximum LAI was yielded on the 80th day after emergence in T4. Use of TMWW increased seed oil to 5.85%, which was 29.2% more than that in the control. Maximum values for percentage of protein, total dry matter and phosphorus concentration were obtained in T5. Maximum zinc concentration (15.93 mg kg(-1)) was obtained in T4; it was 8% more than the control. According to the results there was no significant difference in treatment T4 and T5.