Effects of Irrigations with Treated Municipal Wastewater on Phenological Parameters of Tetraploid Cenchrus ciliaris L

This study was conducted to investigate the use of treated municipal wastewater (TWW) in agriculture. Experiments have been carried out from July 2013 to July 2014, irrigating Cenchrus ciliaris with TWW or tap water (TW). The study, conducted under greenhouse conditions, compared the effect of TWW with the water normally used in irrigation, on the growth, phenological and phytomass production of C. ciliaris a species with high pastoral value. Firstly, our results evidenced that all the chemical parameters of TWW fell in the range of values permitted by Tunisian regulation except chloride. Additionally, TWW increased plant growth during the growth cycle, producing taller plant with respect to TW. All plants irrigated with TWW showed a better performance than plants irrigated with TW only. Similarly, TWW irrigations had positive impacts on flowering parameters during the reproductive cycle. Therefore, treated wastewater can be used as an alternative water resource in irrigation of annual fodder species, with the dual purpose of preserving fresh water and of increasing soil fertility as well as crop productivity.