Treated wastewater irrigation of tomato crop: Effects on tomato crop production, and on physico-chemical properties, SDH activity and microbiological properties of tomato fruits

Abstract

The main of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of irrigation by treated domestic and industrial wastewater on the crops production of tomato plants, ‘’pogand on the physicochemical properties and the microbiological properties of tomato fruit. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was also monitored in the leaves, roots and fruit. The physico-chemical characteristics and microbiological properties of the soil and the irrigation water samples were determined. The results reported in the present study show that the irrigation water source was significantly affect yield of tomato crops and quantitative parameters of tomato fruits (i.e number of fruits and the weight of fresh fruits). However, with treated wastewater, the tomato growth was higher as compared to other treatments. The physicochemical composition of tomato fruits in all treatment was recorded levels below the FAO permissible limits in tomatoes. For the microbiological results, no Escherichia coli, Fecal Streptococci, Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella isolated in both treatment (Treated wastewater and pure water) and total coliforms and fecal coliforms were below to acceptable limits for vegetable (<4 log CFU/g). So, tomato fruits microbial quality was very good.