Evaluating the effectiveness of Dracaena sanderiana in altering greywater properties for irrigation suitability assessment

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the bioremediation effectiveness of Dracaena sanderiana in treating greywater (untreated and treated) at various dilutions (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% undiluted) over incubation periods of 15 and 30 days. A range of physical (electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids) and chemical (pH, total alkalinity, potassium ions, sodium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions, chloride ion, total nitrogen, total phosphorus) properties were assessed along with certain primary metabolites of Dracaena sanderiana plant to determine the irrigation water quality index (IWQI). The highest IWQI value of 67.91 was recorded for the 100% undiluted treated greywater after 30 days of incubation, while the remaining treatments exhibited values ranging from 8.30 to 37.45. The study highlights the potential of Dracaena sanderiana plant as a sustainable and eco-friendly bioremediation agent for enhancing greywater quality for irrigation purposes. The study revealed an initial decline in carbohydrate content in plants irrigated with filtered greywater due to nutrient deficiency. However, over time, nutrient ion levels increased, stimulating carbohydrate formation. This was positively correlated with chlorophyll a and b levels in the filtered water. A significant increase in metabolism rates was also observed in both filtered and unfiltered greywater. This is attributed to the presence of high concentrations of nutrients, such as potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which play a crucial role in activating photosynthesis and the formation of proteins, amino acids, and chloroplasts. The utilization of treated greywater for irrigation enhances plant growth and productivity by increasing leaf chlorophyll content, improving water quality, and boosting photosynthetic efficiency.

Keywords

• kirkuk
• irrigation water
• iwqi
• chlorophyll
• potassium