Utilization of Wastewater from The Tapioca Starch Factory for Growing Napier Grass in Saline Soil
The study of the utilization of
wastewater from the tapioca starch factory for growing Napier grass in saline
soil and The effects on chemical properties of soil. The experiment was divided
into 2 phases as following: The first phase, the researcher planned 7 solutions
of RCBD experiments for 3 times each, for example, using the wastewater before
treating in stabilization pond, using the wastewater before treating in
stabilization pond together with irrigation water for 1:1 and 1:2, using the
wastewater after treating in stabilization pond, using the wastewater after
treating in stabilization pond together with irrigation water for 1:1 and 1:2,
and non-using the wastewater as control. As the results of every experiment,
they effected on the grass growth at 4 weeks including the numbers of clumps,
grass per clumps, leaves per grass, and grass height. They were non-significant (p > 0.05). The second phase, the
researcher planned 2 solutions of Paired t-test experiments for 3 times each,
for example, using the wastewater before treating in stabilization pond, and
non-using the wastewater as control plot. The results of both experiments
revealed that they were effected on the grass growth and productivity at 12
weeks with non-significant (p > 0.05).
The productivity of 3-month grass from the wastewater plot in term of wet and
dried basis had average weighted 183.33 and 54.04 grams per leaves, 423.33 and 81.54
grams per trunks. The data from the control plot had average weighted 150.00 and 46.33 grams per leaves, 336.67 and 64.57 grams
per trunks. In terms of soil properties before and after the experiments, both
had significant Potential of Hydrogen
ion (pH), Electric Conductivity (EC), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), and Phosphorus (P) at (p < 0.05) except Potassium (K). It had non- significant at
(p > 0.05) which found that the nutrients in
soil- TKN, P-were reduced. Moreover, the amount of EC was also decreased which
effected on saline soil except pH. It was higher.
However, watering plants with
wastewater helps Napier grass growth in terms of the amount of clumps, grass
per clumps, leaves per grass, and grass height, together with the wet and dried
weight of Napier grass with non-significant (p > 0.05) comparing with
irrigation water. As the result, wastewater could grow Napier grass and boost the
productivity which reuses the waste product directly. Moreover, it could reduce
the budget for treating in stabilization pond including reducing using the
irrigation water which was one way to reserve water resources.
KEYWORDS Utilization
of wastewater from the tapioca starch factory, Napier grass, Saline soil
