This study evaluated the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) using treated wastewater TWW on the vegetative productivity and quality of greenhouse-grown eggplant (Lalli). A plot-based experiment was carried out and TWW was applied in four deficit irrigation (DI) scenarios targeting soil moisture content in reference to evapotranspiration rate (ETc) at T1 (60%), T2 (80%), T3 (100%), and T4 (120%). Different DI scenarios significantly affected both physiochemical soil properties and affected crop yield by supplying nutrients and increasing the salinity. The eggplant yield (ton/ha) were: 20.8 ± 1.42, 22.1 ± 1.73, 28.1 ± 1.85, and 23.25 ± 1.1 for T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively. In addition, DI showed a positive effect on irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) saving up to 40% in water irrigation, T1 scenario showed the highest yield (8.6 ± 0.42 kg/m3). DI also had a positive effect on fruit quality, fruit size, phenolic content, protein content, and Monodehydroascorbate (MDA) of the eggplant fruit, which was all enhanced. Microbial contamination of the eggplant with fecal coliform under DI by TWW was notable; whereas no contamination of E. coli and Salmonella. Coupling DI and other abiotic stress factors with TWW for irrigation affected the productivity and the quality of the eggplant.
This study evaluated the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) using treated wastewater TWW on the vegetative productivity and quality of greenhouse-grown eggplant (Lalli). A plot-based experiment was carried out and TWW was applied in four deficit irrigation (DI) scenarios targeting soil moisture content in reference to evapotranspiration rate (ETc) at T1 (60%), T2 (80%), T3 (100%), and T4 (120%). Different DI scenarios significantly affected both physiochemical soil properties and affected crop yield by supplying nutrients and increasing the salinity. The eggplant yield (ton/ha) were: 20.8 ± 1.42, 22.1 ± 1.73, 28.1 ± 1.85, and 23.25 ± 1.1 for T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively. In addition, DI showed a positive effect on irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) saving up to 40% in water irrigation, T1 scenario showed the highest yield (8.6 ± 0.42 kg/m3). DI also had a positive effect on fruit quality, fruit size, phenolic content, protein content, and Monodehydroascorbate (MDA) of the eggplant fruit, which was all enhanced. Microbial contamination of the eggplant with fecal coliform under DI by TWW was notable; whereas no contamination of E. coli and Salmonella. Coupling DI and other abiotic stress factors with TWW for irrigation affected the productivity and the quality of the eggplant.