ABSTRACT
This work has assessed the effects of different dilutions of treated domestic wastewater, such as reuse water, on the development of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth and Amburana cearensis (Fr. All) A.C Smith. seedlings. The experiment made use of sandy soil as substrate and irrigation with treatment consisted of five dilutions of reuse water and public supply water (PSW), with five repetitions each, as follows: T1 (100% reuse water + 0% PSW), T2 (75% reuse water + 25% public supply water), T3 (50% reuse water + 50% public supply water), T4 (25% reuse water + 75% public supply water), and T5 (0% reuse water + 100% public supply water). Effects of the different dilutions of treated wastewater were evaluated according to the following functional characteristics: number of leaves, size of primary root, dry matter content of leaves, dry matter content of primary root, and dry matter content of lateral roots. In addition, plant height and collar diameter were also measured over the period of 30, 60, and 90 days. Results obtained for A. cearensis show that dry matter content of leaves and dry matter content of primary root had the highest values with T2, T3, and T4. As far as diameter over time is concerned, there was a significant difference for the T3 treatment in 90 days. Treatments did not produce any meaningful differences in the case of M. Caesalpiniifolia. It was possible to conclude, therefore, that treated domestic wastewater had neutral or positive effects on development and could be a potential water source to irrigate seedlings of these species, in both diluted and concentrated forms.
Keywords:
water resources; reuse; leguminous; native species