Chemical Analysis of Moringa-Treated Wastewater and its Impact on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Characteristics in Leucaena leucocephala

Scarcity of freshwater resources for agricultural purposes is a crucial problem in arid and semi-arid regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Moringa seed powder on wastewater quality parameters and examine the responses of Leucaena leucocephala seedlings irrigated with Moringa-treated wastewater. Moringa seed powder was used for different wastewater types (gray, primary-, and tertiary-treated wastewater). Wastewaters were treated with Moringa seed powder using the following concentrations: 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/L. The analyses of wastewaters before and after treatment with Moringa seed powder were conducted, and its impact on seed germination and seedling growth of Leucaena leucocephala was investigated using Moringa-treated wastewater. Our results revealed that Moringa seed powder decreased pH and increased electrical conductivity, phosphate, nitrate, and ionic abundance of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in the treated wastewater as Moringa seed powder concentration increases. Both germination rate index and percentages were not significantly different for treated wastewater as compared to control. However, the treatment showed the highest percentage at 0.8 g (95%) using M. oleifera compared to 0.2 g (86.3%) with M. peregrina. On the other hand, seedling characteristics of Leucaena leucocephala improved for both treatments. Shoot heights and root lengths were the highest at concentrations 0.2 g (10.48 and 7.28 cm, respectively) and 0.8 g (10.51 and 7.22 cm, respectively) for both M. peregrina and M. oleifera. Finally, Moringa seed powder improved the plant productivity using M. oleifera, while slight decline in plant height with M. peregrine was shown compared to control.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the effects of Moringa seed powder on wastewater quality parameters and the growth of Leucaena leucocephala seedlings. Results showed that Moringa seed powder treatment increased nutrient content in wastewater and had a positive impact on seed germination and seedling growth of Leucaena leucocephala.