Soil Sciences Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, 11451, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, 11442, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 11;14(1):18634. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-68774-0.
Water scarcity and droughts are among the most challenging issues worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Saudi Arabia. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), a major crop in Saudi Arabia, is being significantly affected by water scarcity, soil salinity, and desertification. Alternative water sources are needed to conserve freshwater resources and increase date palm production in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has a significant number of aquaculture farms that generate substantial amounts of wastewater, which can be utilized as an alternative source of irrigation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential of aquaculture wastewater as an alternative irrigation source for date palm orchards. Aquaculture wastewater was collected from 12 different farms (Al-Kharj, Al-Muzahmiya, and Al-Qassim regions, Saudi Arabia) and its quality was analyzed. The impacts of aquaculture wastewater irrigation on soil quality, nutrient availability, nutrient status of date palm trees, and dates fruit quality were assessed in comparison to source water (freshwater) irrigation at Al-Kharj, Al-Muzahmiya, and Al-Qassim regions. The water quality analyses showed higher salinity (EC = 3.31 dSm) in farm Q3, while all other farms demonstrated no salinity, sodicity, or alkalinity hazards. Moreover, the aquaculture wastewater irrigation increased soil available P, K, NO-N, and NH-N by 49.31%, 21.11%, 33.62%, and 52.31%, respectively, compared to source water irrigation. On average, date palm fruit weight, length, and moisture contents increased by 26%, 23%, and 43% under aquaculture wastewater irrigation compared to source water irrigation. Further, P, K, Fe, Cu, and Zn contents in date palm leaf were increased by 19.35%, 34.17%, 37.36%, 38.24%, and 45.29%, respectively, under aquaculture wastewater irrigation compared to source water irrigation. Overall, aquaculture wastewater irrigation significantly enhanced date palm plant growth, date palm fruit quality, and soil available nutrients compared to freshwater irrigation. It was concluded that aquaculture wastewater can be used as an effective irrigation source for date palm farms as it enhances soil nutrient availability, date palm growth, and date fruit yield and quality. The findings of this study suggest that aquaculture wastewater could be a viable alternative for conserving freshwater resources and increase date palm production in Saudi Arabia.
水资源短缺和干旱是全球面临的最具挑战性的问题之一，尤其是在沙特阿拉伯等干旱和半干旱地区。沙特阿拉伯的主要作物枣椰树（Phoenix dactylifera L.）正受到水资源短缺、土壤盐度和荒漠化的严重影响。需要替代水源来保护淡水资源并增加沙特阿拉伯的枣椰树产量。另一方面，沙特阿拉伯拥有大量的水产养殖农场，这些农场会产生大量的废水，这些废水可以作为灌溉的替代水源。因此，本研究旨在评估水产养殖废水作为枣椰果园替代灌溉水源的潜力。从沙特阿拉伯的 Al-Kharj、Al-Muzahmiya 和 Al-Qassim 地区的 12 个不同农场收集了水产养殖废水，并对其水质进行了分析。在 Al-Kharj、Al-Muzahmiya 和 Al-Qassim 地区，将水产养殖废水灌溉对土壤质量、养分供应、枣椰树养分状况和枣椰果实品质的影响与水源（淡水）灌溉进行了比较。水质分析表明，农场 Q3 的盐分（EC=3.31 dSm）较高，而其他所有农场均无盐分、碱度或碱性危害。此外，与水源灌溉相比，水产养殖废水灌溉分别增加了 49.31%、21.11%、33.62%和 52.31%的土壤有效 P、K、NO-N 和 NH-N。平均而言，与淡水灌溉相比，水产养殖废水灌溉使枣椰果的重量、长度和水分含量分别增加了 26%、23%和 43%。此外，与淡水灌溉相比，水产养殖废水灌溉使枣椰树叶中的 P、K、Fe、Cu 和 Zn 含量分别增加了 19.35%、34.17%、37.36%、38.24%和 45.29%。总的来说，与淡水灌溉相比，水产养殖废水灌溉显著促进了枣椰树的生长、枣椰果实的品质以及土壤中有效养分的供应。研究结论表明，水产养殖废水可用作枣椰果园的有效灌溉水源，因为它可以提高土壤养分的可利用性、枣椰树的生长以及枣椰果实的产量和品质。本研究的结果表明，水产养殖废水可能是节约沙特阿拉伯淡水资源和增加枣椰树产量的可行替代方案。
