Pragmatic and Fragile Effects of Wastewater on a Soil-Plant-Air Continuum and Its Remediation Measures: A Perspective

Abstract

Water is an essential input for agricultural development and irrigated agriculture. However, groundwater reliance is rising due to lack of canal water and is often inferior quality, costly, scarce, and ultimately expensive for smallholders. Moreover, as hunger rises daily due to population growth, additional irrigation water systems are needed to extend the cropping patterns. Therefore, wastewater (WW) use in agriculture has been increased on a growing scale over the last decades due to its fertilizing capacity and decrease in canal water and freshwater availability. It enhances soil productivity by contributing organic matter contents and preserves water and nutrients for plants. Various traditional treatments such as primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments are being used, but more working is required due to health and environmental issues. Therefore, the end product of tertiary treatments could be mixed with different water sources (for dilution), phytoremediator plants in channels and use of microbes that eat waste food could be adopted because the maximum crop yield is primarily determined by water quality, as well as climatic conditions, water management practices, chemical and physical soil properties. Besides, we can minimize the all-potential risks associated with agricultural activities and production via strengthened strategies, systemic dialogues, and financial frameworks. The present review discusses WW irrigation are that it provides a safer water source to the farmers and has the beneficial elements of providing essential plant nutrients after treatment and environmental sustainability.