Some sugarbeet processors are irrigating agricultural land for the
treatment and disposal of processing wastewater. The wastewater
contains organic matter (COD) and inorganic nutrients, as well as
inorganic salts. Experiments on irrigating with sugarbeet processing
wastewater were conducted at plants in America. Wastewater irrigation
schedules were imposed to determine optimum irrigation rates. Nitrogen
application in the wastewater ranged from 275 to 1400 kg ha-¹ .
Phosphorus applications were low and potassium varied widely. COD
removal in some of the fields was unsatisfactory in the first year of
irrigation but improved as the fields were conditioned by continued
wastewater irrigation. With good management and proper loading,
sugarbeet processing wastewater can be used for irrigation with
satisfactory results
