TY - JOUR
T1 - Demonstration of sustainable crop growth using production water treated with solar membrane distillation technology
T2 - A case study
AU - Al-Rashdi, Ismail
AU - Al-Maskri, Ahmed
AU - Goosen, Mattheus F.A.
AU - Haffar, Imad
AU - Al-Nuaimi, Ali
AU - Al-Hadhabi, Mansour
AU - Opara, Linus
N1 - Funding Information:
Ismail Al-Rashdi and Ahmed Al-Maskri are affiliated with the Department of Crop Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Mattheus F. A. Goosen is affiliated with the School of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, University of Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico 00778. Imad Haffar is affiliated with the Department of Research & Development, Nakheel, Dubai, UAE. Ali Al-Nuaimi is affiliated with the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Mansour Al-Hadhabi and Linus Opara are affiliated with the Department of Soil, Water and Agricultural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Address correspondence to: Mattheus F. A. Goosen at the above address (E-mail: mgoosen@suagm.edu). The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance and contributions of Said Al-Asmi, Tiiu Ford, and Ahmed Kazzaz to this paper. The solar membrane desalination system was provided by and set up by Hans Houf and Marinus Potter of Solar Dew, The Netherlands. Financial support from Petroleum Development of Oman through Contract Number: CTR 200235 (SQU Code: CR/AGR/BIOR/01/02) is gratefully acknowledged.
PY - 2007/8/29
Y1 - 2007/8/29
N2 - This paper summarizes the establishment of a demonstration pilot farm at a dessert environment for sustainable crop growth using reed-bed-outlet production water that was treated with solar membrane distillation (i.e., Solar Dew) technology. Specifically, land preparation, plot layout, and the design and installation of an irrigation system were described. Plant tissue analysis indicated that there was no build-up of heavy metals. Analysis of soil over the test period showed that there was a slight build-up of salts. This was attributed to the use of sewage treatment plant water prior to irrigation with Solar Dew water. The salt content of the treated water varied from low (i.e., 11 mg/L) to acceptable (i.e., 122 mg/L). Due to the lower than expected fresh water production capacity of the solar membrane distillation system (i.e., 4 L/m2d vs. 5 L/ m2d), the field testing of crops was limited to date palm and citrus trees. Some problems were encountered with the novel desalination system. Recommendations were included in the paper. Overall, it was successfully demonstrated that sustainable crop growth could be achieved using reed-bed-outlet production water that had been treated with Solar Dew membrane technology. doi:10.1300/J064v30n03_10
AB - This paper summarizes the establishment of a demonstration pilot farm at a dessert environment for sustainable crop growth using reed-bed-outlet production water that was treated with solar membrane distillation (i.e., Solar Dew) technology. Specifically, land preparation, plot layout, and the design and installation of an irrigation system were described. Plant tissue analysis indicated that there was no build-up of heavy metals. Analysis of soil over the test period showed that there was a slight build-up of salts. This was attributed to the use of sewage treatment plant water prior to irrigation with Solar Dew water. The salt content of the treated water varied from low (i.e., 11 mg/L) to acceptable (i.e., 122 mg/L). Due to the lower than expected fresh water production capacity of the solar membrane distillation system (i.e., 4 L/m2d vs. 5 L/ m2d), the field testing of crops was limited to date palm and citrus trees. Some problems were encountered with the novel desalination system. Recommendations were included in the paper. Overall, it was successfully demonstrated that sustainable crop growth could be achieved using reed-bed-outlet production water that had been treated with Solar Dew membrane technology. doi:10.1300/J064v30n03_10
KW - Desalination
KW - Desert
KW - Heavy metals
KW - Irrigation
KW - Salts
KW - Sewage
KW - Solar membrane distillation
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U2 - 10.1300/J064v30n03_10
DO - 10.1300/J064v30n03_10
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34548634219
SN - 1044-0046
VL - 30
SP - 149
EP - 163
JO - Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
JF - Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
IS - 3
ER -
