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IWA Publishing, Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination, 2(3), p. 148-159, 2013

DOI: 10.2166/wrd.2013.019

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Was monochloramine responsible for widespread lettuce crop failures at a major recycled water irrigation scheme?

Journal article published in 2013 by S. F. Barker ORCID, R. Faggian, J. Blackbeard, G. Hepworth, A. J. Hamilton
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
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Abstract

In 2008, vegetable growers observed stunted lettuce plants showing signs of chlorosis and wilting. It was suspected that monochloramine in the recycled water used for irrigation, in combination with extreme environmental conditions (high irrigation water salinity and extreme heat), was responsible for these crop failures. A series of glasshouse studies was conducted to evaluate the impact of monochloramine concentration alone on iceberg lettuce seedlings, as well as in combination with high salinity and hot ambient temperatures. Monochloramine concentrations up to 9 and 15 mg L−1 Cl2 for continuous and initial irrigation only, respectively, did not affect the weight of iceberg lettuce heads (p > 0.05), while the combination of monochloramine (4–5 mg L−1 Cl2) and salinity (3,500 μS cm−1) did not significantly affect harvest measurements (p > 0.05). We therefore conclude that it is unlikely that monochloramine was responsible for the observed crop failures.