AEROBIC-ANOXIC BIOPROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER AND APPLYING THE EFFLUENT FOR IRRIGATING VEGETABLE CROPS

This study was designed to evaluate the treatment performance of aerobic-anoxic bioprocess system for Arba Minch Town (AMT) municipal wastewater treatment. Wastewater sample were collected and characterized from nine purposively selected sampling stations. The treated effluent and influent wastewater were evaluated for growing three randomly selected vegetables (Lettuce, Cabbage and Tomato). Petridish and pot experiment set up were designed and analyzed using standard protocols for vegetables germination and physiological parameters test including shoot and root length, leaf number and area, fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll content, heavy metal and pathogenic organism. Descriptive statistics and a one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s multiple range test with pPb>Zn>Mn>Cu>Cd, 5.1±0.1, 2.2±0.4, 0.38±0.07, 0.26±0.07, 0.1±0.0, 0.006±0.11, respectively. Moreover, the result showed that leaf number and area, chlorophyll, shoot and root length, dry and fresh weight of vegetable crops were significantly higher (p