Sorghum Grain and Forage Yield Improvement in the Sonoran Desert by Use of Municipal Wastewater

Abstract

Experiments were conducted near Buckeye, Arizona in 1975 and 1976 to study the influence of treated municipal wastewater on growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Pump water from local wells (control treatment) and a 50:50 mixture of wastewater and pump water were the two sources of irrigation water used. Sorghum irrigated with the wastewater-pump water mixture grew taller and produced more heads per unit area than did sorghum irrigated with pump water alone in 1975 and 1976. Grain yields and forage yields were also higher for sorghum irrigated with the wastewater-pump water mixture than they were for sorghum irrigated with pump water alone, in both years. Grain volume-weight was not adversely affected by irrigating with the wastewater-pump water mixture.