Comparative Impact of Clean Municipal water and Domestic Wastewater Irrigation on Mineral Composition and Morphological Traits of Ocimum sanctum L.

This study presents a comparative analysis of the effects of clean municipal water and domestic wastewater with high salinity on the growth and mineral content of Ocimum sanctum (commonly known as Tulsi), a widely used medicinal plant. Two sets of plants were cultivated under controlled pot conditions using standard agricultural soil: one irrigated with clean municipal water and the other with high-salt-content domestic wastewater, including borewell water. Over an 81-day period, morphological observations and mineral content analysis were conducted to assess the influence of irrigation type. Key parameters such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe) concentrations were analyzed in the plant tissues. Results indicated comparable levels of these essential nutrients in both treatments. However, variations were observed in morphological traits, suggesting that while wastewater can serve as an alternative irrigation source without significantly altering the plant's nutrient uptake, it may influence plant development. These findings align with prior research demonstrating the potential of treated wastewater in irrigation without compromising crop quality (Toze, 2006; Qadir et al., 2007). The study supports the reuse of treated wastewater in sustainable agriculture, with considerations for plant-specific morphological responses.