Effluent effects on the nutrient concentrations and growth of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides × P. petrowskyana L.).

Using effluent as a source of irrigation water and to provide nutrients for plant growth is gaining favour as an environmentally positive practice instead of discharging effluent into surface water bodies. A growth chamber study was conducted to evaluate pulp mill wastewater as an irrigation source. This study evaluated the effects of water (TPW), municipal effluent (ME), and Kraft pulp mill effluent (KPME) and waste activated sludge (WAS) at rates of 1.5, 3, and 6 mm d-1 on available soil nutrients, nutrient uptake, and growth of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides × P. petrowskyana L.). Increasing the application rate significantly increased biomass for both crops, but the KPME treatment significantly decreased leaf biomass of the hybrid poplar. Effluent applications did not result in toxic accumulations of nutrients within the analyzed tissues for either reed canarygrass or hybrid poplar. Only the WAS treatment significantly increased soil available concentra...