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Treatment and Disposal of Sugarbeet Processing Waste Water by Irrigation

Smith, J.H. and Hayden, C.W. (1980) Treatment and Disposal of Sugarbeet Processing Waste Water by Irrigation. USDA Conservation Research Report No. 25. 59 pp.

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Abstract

Irrigation with sugarbeet processing waste
water was studied at three locations for 2 or 3
years where perennial grass and alfalfa were
irrigated by flooding specially graded fields.
Experimental sites were scheduled for
irrigation at intervals of 1, 2, or 4 weeks. This
schedule was maintained for the first year until
the weekly irrigated plots were discontinued
because of excessive loading. Waste water was
sampled twice weekly from the sugar factories,
and water samples were extracted from the soil
at depths of from 15 to 150 cm each time the
fields were irrigated. All water samples were
analyzed for chemical oxygen demand, total
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, electrical
conductivity, calcium, magnesium, sodium,
sodium absorption ratio, pH, chlorine, sulfate,
and bicarbonate. Soil and plants were also
analyzed for selected constituents. N
applications to the experimental plots ranged
from 280 to 4200 kg/ha and, on the fields, from
277 to 1425 kg/ha. P applications ranged from 5
to 50 kg/ha on the experimental plots and from
11 to 43 kg/ha on the fields. K applications
ranged from 195 to 6350 kg/ha on the
experimental plots and from 490 to 3410 kg/ha
on the fields. Water applications ranged from 28
to 201 cm/year, and COD applications ranged
from 8 to 140 metric tons/ha. COD reduction in
the waste water at Twin Falls averaged 48
percent in winter and 98 percent in summer; at
Rupert, it averaged 84 percent in winter and 98
percent in summer; and at Nampa, it averaged
75 percent in winter and 88 percent in summer.
Nitrates found in water samples extracted from
150 cm in the soil were mostly below 10 parts per
million N with a few samples higher. Irrigation
with sugarbeet processing waste water works
well in the field.

Item Type: Technical Bulletin
NWISRL Publication Number: 0450
Additional Information: Prepared by Science and Education Administration
Subjects: Irrigated crops > Sugarbeet
Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User: Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2010 21:57
Last Modified: 31 Oct 2016 16:16
Item ID: 1132
URI: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1132