Land degradation due to elevated salinity and sodicity is a serious problem affecting many irrigated regions of the world. Salinity coupled with freshwater scarcity has forced many farmers in arid regions to abandon agricultural lands. This study evaluated irrigation potential of marginal quality treated urban wastewater to produce bioenergy sorghum on saline soils collected from an abandoned degraded salt affected lands in Texas and New Mexico under greenhouse conditions. Study results indicated that the energy sorghum biomass production and quality under wastewater irrigation were comparable to that irrigated with freshwater on nonsaline soils. Soil salinity especially in the subsurface increased over time under wastewater irrigation compared to that under freshwater irrigation. Soil sodicity (measured by sodium adsorption ratios) increased over time in all water–soil treatment combinations. Sodicity values were higher in treatments that received wastewater irrigation with no addition of calcium to counter sodium. Although sodicity exceeded the threshold value, no impairment in soil permeability was observed. Study results indicated a great potential for marginal quality water irrigation to improve degraded saline land productivity. Further field studies are required to confirm our greenhouse study results and the potential of bioenergy crops especially on saline soils and to highlight treated wastewater as a potential irrigation source.

中文翻译：

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处理过的城市污水灌溉对干旱环境中生物能源高粱的生物量，质量和土壤盐分的影响

由于盐分和盐度升高造成的土地退化是一个严重的问题，影响到世界许多灌溉地区。盐分加上淡水短缺迫使干旱地区的许多农民放弃了耕地。这项研究评估了在温室条件下从得克萨斯州和新墨西哥州的一块废弃盐退化土地上收集的盐分土壤中收集的盐分土壤，其处理过的边际质量处理过的城市废水的灌溉潜力产生了生物能源高粱。研究结果表明，废水灌溉下的高粱能量生物量生产和质量与非盐渍土壤上的淡水灌溉相当。与淡水灌溉相比，尤其是地下灌溉下的土壤盐分随时间增加。在所有水-土壤处理组合中，土壤碱度（通过钠吸附率衡量）均随时间增加。在不添加钙以对抗钠的情况下接受废水灌溉的处理中，碱度值较高。尽管碱度超过阈值，但未观察到土壤渗透性的损害。研究结果表明，边际水质灌溉有很大的潜力来提高退化盐碱地的生产力。需要进一步的田间研究，以确认我们的温室研究结果以及生物能源作物的潜力，尤其是在盐渍土壤上的潜力，并强调经过处理的废水作为潜在的灌溉源。尽管碱度超过阈值，但未观察到土壤渗透性的损害。研究结果表明，边际水质灌溉有很大的潜力来提高退化盐碱地的生产力。需要进一步的田间研究，以确认我们的温室研究结果以及生物能源作物的潜力，尤其是在盐渍土壤上的潜力，并强调经过处理的废水作为潜在的灌溉源。尽管碱度超过阈值，但未观察到土壤渗透性的损害。研究结果表明，边际质量水灌溉在提高退化盐碱地生产力方面具有巨大潜力。需要进一步的田间研究，以确认我们的温室研究结果以及生物能源作物的潜力，尤其是在盐渍土壤上的潜力，并强调经过处理的废水作为潜在的灌溉源。