Impact of wastewater irrigation on chemical properties of soil and flower quality of marigold (Tagetes patula L. cv. Pusa deep)

A field experiment was conducted to find out the impact of wastewater irrigation on physical and microbiological soil health in marigold (Tagetes patula L. cv.Pusa deep) based on FDR sensor at Water Technology Centre farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during period of 2020-2021. Eight treatments T-1: Groundwater irrigation scheduled at 25% MAD (v=27%); T-2: Groundwater irrigation scheduled at 50% MAD (v =22.5%) T-3: Groundwater irrigation scheduled at 75% MAD (v= 18%);T4: Groundwater irrigation scheduled as per farmers practice/recommended POP; T-5: Wastewater irrigation scheduled at 25% MAD (v= 27%); T-6: Wastewater irrigation scheduled at 50% MAD (v= 22.5%); T-7: Wastewater irrigation scheduled at 50% MAD (v= 18%); T-8: Wastewater irrigation scheduled as per farmers practice/recommended POP were laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Results indicated that soil chemical properties such as pH, organic carbon, EC, NPK and heavy metalat depth of 0-15 cm in marigold. As soil pH (7.80), EC (0.24 to 0.31 dS/m), OC (0.38), NPK and the concentration of heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb) were significantly higher in the treatment T6 where wastewater irrigations were scheduled at 50% MADas compared to groundwater irrigations. Moreover, the quality and grade of marigold came to be high in wastewater irrigated plots compared to groundwater. Thus, short-term application of wastewater has less impact over soil and gives better results in crop growth and quality but, the long-term application of wastewater may affect the chemical properties of the soil which can be analysed with different ranges of MAD (maximum allowable deficit) need to be studied.