Schinus molle L. Seedling responses to cheese whey irrigation

Tarek M. Aboudahab, Amira F.Y. El-Kady and Sahar T.A. Ewis

Abstract

The dairy industry is one of the main sources of industrial effluent; this industry is based on the processing and manufacturing of raw milk into deferent products such as cheese. Cheese whey is simultaneously an effluent with nutritional value and a strong organic content. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of irrigation using various types of cheese whey (CW) and potable water (PW) on Schinus molle L. seedlings to evaluate its growth and pigment contents. The study was carried out at the experimental nursery of the Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, during seasons of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design using nine treatments as follow: PW (control) (0:1), Kareish cheese whey (KCW) (1:0) and (1:1), Mozzarella cheese non salty whey (MCNSW) (1:0) and (1:1), Mozzarella cheese salty whey (MCSW) (1:6) and (1:8), and Domiati cheese whey (DCW) (1:12) and (1:16). Growth characters (stem diameter (mm), main root length (cm), shoots and roots fresh weights (g), and shoots dry weight (g)) were measured, in addition to pigment contents (chlorophyll a, b, and total carotenoids (mg/g)) determination. The results indicated that irrigating plants with DCW (1:12) and (1:16) and MCSW (1:6) and (1:8) recorded the highest significant growth and pigment contents than those irrigated with MCNSW and KCW as compared to the control in both seasons. The data showed that usage of different CW types proved to be an economic way to dissolve water scarcely problems.

Key words

Cheese whey reuse, Water scarcely, Dairy industry, Industrial effluent, Brazilian pepper tree.