Effect of Using Unconventional Waters and Zeolite on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Sorghum in Mazandaran

To investigate the effect of unconventional water and zeolite on yield and water use efficiency of sorghum, a split plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications, at Gharakhil Agricultural Research Station in Ghaemshahr, Mazandaran Province. In this experiment, the main treatment was irrigation water quality (well water as control (W1); 75% well water and 25% seawater (W2); 25% well water and 75% seawater (W3); 100% treated urban wastewater alternated with 100% seawater (W4); 50% seawater and 50% urban treated wastewater (W5); irrigation with urban treated wastewater (W6)), and sub-treatment included three levels of zeolite as soil amendment (without zeolite Z1, calcic zeolite Z2, and potasic zeolite Z3). The results of data analysis showed that irrigation water quality treatments and zeolite levels had a significant (P<0.05) effect on plant yield. With increasing salinity, the yield of fresh and dry fodder sorghum decreased, but no significant difference was observed between treatments W5 and W4. The fresh and dry fodder yield in treated wastewater with calcic zeolite was higher than other treatments. The highest leaf area index was recorded in W6Z2 treatment (7.62) and the lowest was in W3Z1 treatment (3.80). The highest water use efficiency of fresh forage was observed in W6Z2 treatment (12.7 kg/m3) and the lowest in W3Z1 treatment (4.62 kg/m3).