Reuse of inland low-salinity shrimp farm effluent for melon irrigation

Environmental impacts associated with inland shrimp farming may be attenuated by using its effluent for crop irrigation. The objective of this study was to evaluate melon (Cucumis melo L.) yield and changes in soil chemical characteristics, in response to irrigation with low-salinity shrimp farm effluent, and to compare the results with freshwater irrigation. The following treatments were applied: two sources of water for melon drip irrigation (shrimp effluent and river water) as main factors and two nitrogen doses applied through fertigation (120 and 90 kg N ha−1) as sub-factors. There were no significant differences among treatments regarding melon yield and fruit quality. Compared to river water, effluent irrigation decreased pH, calcium, and magnesium levels in the soil, increasing the exchangeable sodium ratio (ESR).