Abstract

MARTEL-VALLES, Fernando et al. Agronomic use of produced water in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) under greenhouse conditions. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.4, pp.365-377. ISSN 0188-4999.

The geological structures used for hydrocarbon production typically contain congenital water whose composition is modified when it is extracted during the industrial production processing of oil or gas. This is known as "produced water." The aim of the present study was to characterize and verify the feasibility of using produced water from the gas exploration area of Sabinas-Piedras Negras, Mexico, to cultivate tomato plants under greenhouse conditions. The treatments were established by mixing produced water from three producing gas stations (Buena Suerte, Monclova 1 and Forasteros) with good quality irrigation water. The mixture proportions were (mL of produced water per L of fresh water) 133, 3.4 and 125, respectively. A control treatment consisted of Steiner nutrient solution. The produced waters and mixtures were analyzed under NOM-143-SEMARNAT-2003, a norm established for congenital waters. The results showed that the mixtures with produced water from the Monclova 1 and Forasteros stations were feasible for use in the production of tomatoes because the morphological growth parameters did not show significant differences compared with the control, although the plants irrigated with mixtures containing water from the Forasteros station showed decreased leaf dry weight. The average mineral concentrations absorbed by these plants were the most similar to those of the control plants. The treatment with the mixture of water from the Buena Suerte station was not suitable for agricultural use because this mixture negatively affected the stem diameter, leaf dry weight and root length and limited mineral absorption, causing the death of 58 % of the plants.

Keywords : congenital water; salinity; agriculture; water quality.

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