Growth, Photosynthesis and Yield of Chickpea as Influenced by Urban Wastewater and Different Levels of Phosphorus

The use of effluents or marginal water in agriculture is an unavoidable practice and its largest source is the urban wastewater. In order to evaluate its effect on agricultural crops, an experiment was conducted to study its impact on Cicer arietinum L. along with different levels of phophorus. Three levels of water used for irrigation included ground water (GW), 50% wastewater (50%WW) and 100% wastewater (100%WW) and the varying levels of phosphorus (P0, P20, P40, P60) were also applied along with the basal application of nitrogen and potassium at the rate of 15 and 20 kg ha-1 respectively. The effect was evaluated on the basis of growth, biochemical attributes, photosynthesis and yield of the crop. From the results it was clear that the wastewaters proved not only effective source of water but the nutrients also and enhanced growth and photosynthetic capacity and thereby yield of the plants. Moreover the fertilizer (P) requirement of the crop was also reduced. In conclusion the urban wastewater showed no inhibitory effect on the growth of the crop and thus could effectively supplement not only the nutrient requirement of the crop but may also act as the source of water.