Impact of Different Sources of N-Fertilizers on Growth and Nitrate Uptake in Edible Parts of Spinach under Wastewater Irrigation

Sana Farooq; Fiza Shahzad; Noor ul Huda Zafar; Rida Batool; Sadia Farooq; Ali Imran; Asma Ghafoor

doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v6i9.2185

Authors

Sana Farooq Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Fiza Shahzad Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Noor ul Huda Zafar University of the Punjab, CAMB Lahore, Pakistan
Rida Batool Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
Sadia Farooq Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Ali Imran Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab Quaid-i- Azam campus Lahore, Pakistan
Asma Ghafoor Department of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v6i9.2185

Keywords:

Calcium Ammonium Nitrate; Nitrates; Spinacia oleracea; Wastewater; Watering

Abstract

Wastewater irrigation is increasingly used to meet the rising demand for food production, particularly for vegetables. However, residential wastewater and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers may increase nitrate accumulation in leafy vegetables, creating potential public health concerns. Objective: To evaluate the effect of different nitrogen fertilizers on nitrate accumulation, biomass yield, and health risk index in spinach irrigated with wastewater and underground water. Methods: A pot experiment was conducted using a completely randomized factorial design. Four treatment combinations were tested: urea + underground water, urea + wastewater, calcium ammonium nitrate + underground water, and calcium ammonium nitrate + wastewater, with three replications each. Two spinach varieties were included: desi white and hybrid. Edible spinach biomass yield, nitrate uptake, and health risk index were assessed under each treatment combination to determine the impact of fertilizer source and irrigation water quality. Results: The highest biomass yield and nitrate uptake were observed in spinach treated with calcium ammonium nitrate under wastewater irrigation, followed by urea + wastewater, calcium ammonium nitrate + underground water, and urea + underground water. The combined use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and wastewater irrigation resulted in a health risk index greater than 1, indicating a potential health concern. In contrast, spinach irrigated with groundwater showed a health risk index below 1, suggesting a comparatively lower risk. Conclusion: Wastewater irrigation combined with synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, particularly calcium ammonium nitrate, increased spinach biomass but also markedly enhanced nitrate accumulation and dietary health risk. These findings suggest that although wastewater may improve crop productivity, its use with inorganic nitrogen fertilizers in spinach cultivation should be carefully managed to reduce nitrate-related health hazards.

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