The influence of treated municipal wastewater on crude fiber, protein, and amino acid content in wheat grain (Triticum aestivum L.).

Abstract

When wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain was grown on Comoro sandy loam soil, and irrigated with treated municipal wastewater, it contained the same amount of fiber as did grain grown with well water and suggested amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), and as did grain produced with well water plus N, P, and K from commercial sources in amounts equal to those found in wastewater. Grain grown with wastewater alone and grain produced with well water plus N, P, and K in amounts equal to those in wastewater contained similar amounts of protein when cultured in the two soil types. Wheat grain grown with wastewater alone in Comoro sandy loam soil contained more alanine than did grain produced with the other two treatments. Grain grown with the three irrigation and fertilizer treatments contained similar amounts of cvstine, histidine, methionine, proline, and threonine. Grain grown on Grabe silt loam soil and irrigated with wastewater alone contained alanine, cystine, isoleucine, methionine, and threonine in amounts similar to those present in grain produced with well water plus N, P, and K content equal to that of wastewater. Treated municipal wastewater was utilized effectively to produce high quality wheat grain in Arizona.