Influence of vermifiltered wastewater on the morphological, physiological and biochemical developments of Zea mays, Triticum aestivum and Sorghum bicolor seed germination

BACKGROUND: Reclaimed wastewater is a potential source for irrigation, although its effect on seed germination and plant growth has not been widely investigated. The present study focused on treating wastewater by vermifiltration and investigating the effect on seed germination and seedling development of Zea mays, Triticum aestivum and Sorghum bicolor and their morphological, physiological and biochemical developments. A filter bed was constructed using indigenous and improved materials. The constituents used to develop the filter bed consist of matrix of garden soil, lateritic hardpan gravels and coconut coir inoculated with Eisenia fetida. RESULTS: The wastewater was obtained from a public septic tank toilet facility and contained 35–40% dry matter with high concentrations of total dissolve solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (Ntot) and phosphorus (Pavail). Portable water was used as the control. Vermifiltration of the wastewater was shown to be effective for the removal of 52–65% TDS, 56–62% TSS, 34–40% COD, 48–52% BOD, 56–62% Ntot and 53–58% Pavail. The results showed that the morphological, physiological and biochemical processes in Z. mays, T. aestivum and S. bicolor improved when seeds were subjected to treated wastewater. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that a potential reuse of vermifiltered wastewater as a source of irrigation water with continuous monitoring of the water quality is productive and sustainable. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.