Reuse of Treated Sanitary Sewage to Restore Degraded Soil

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of treated domestic wastewater reuse at different dosages on a degraded soil in the western region of Bahia, Brazil, focusing on the recovery of its chemical and biological properties. Method: The methodology of this study involves tests for characterizing the treated wastewater and the soil after the treatments. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 treatments and 4 replications, totaling 16 experimental units. Both the soil and the treated wastewater were analyzed based on pH, NTK, P, K, and TOC. The soil was also analyzed for basal respiration. Results and Discussion: The application of treated wastewater increased macronutrients, raised the concentration of available phosphorus and potassium content, led to an increase in total organic carbon, and enhanced soil basal respiration. Research Implications: This research has practical implications by presenting the characteristics of a soil degraded by human activities and proposing a recovery technique. Furthermore, the reuse of treated wastewater contributes to improved water resource management by avoiding the discharge of wastewater into water bodies and reducing the use of water for irrigation. Originality/Value: This study contributes by addressing the effects of treated wastewater reuse on degraded soil, promoting its recovery through the improvement of its chemical and biological characteristics. This is a topic that has been little studied, especially in the type of degraded soil of the Brazilian Cerrado, where the expansion of agriculture exerts significant pressure on the environment.