The Economic Impact of Using Wastewater Triple Treatment in Agricultural Irrigation of Al-Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia

The study aims at  measuring  the impact of using wastewater triple treatment on the productivity, total costs, and profitability of palm and lemon crops,  The study area includes three zones within the irrigation and drainage project Ahsa, irrigated two types of water              (ground water, and wastewater triple treatment) which Mansoura, Alhara and Jlijlh, A stratified random sample of  290 Farms was taken and distributed  into three zones according to the number of irrigated farms in all of them, Descriptive and quantitative analysis are used in this. T-test, a correlation coefficient and dummy variables are  utilized to estimate the difference between two types of water, The results showed a positive relationship between the wanted farmers on using wastewater triple treatment  in irrigation and type of tenure, full-time farming, family size, education level, while  inverse relationship the old, and holding size (dunum). Using T test showed a significant difference between the two means, perhaps due to the lack of groundwater quality because of increased salinity, especially in the north of the oasis bordering the Arabian Gulf. Using dummy variables show an increase productivity of  Alrziz Palm, Alkhallas Palm, lemon tree that's irrigated with waste water triple treatment  therapy significant  increased by 10.1, 5.3, 12.0 kg from those that are irrigated with groundwater  respectively, While showing low amount Al -basr  by 3.1 kg compared to their irrigated with groundwater.
 
The results also pointed to a rise in profit margin and total productivity and yield of dunum and a decrease in the amount of irrigation water and then rise in unit revenue and water productivity of crops study when using wastewater- triple treatment compared to irrigation groundwater, As it turns out that the use of wastewater treatment for irrigation substitute for use in fertilizer additions because there are some necessary nutrients for plant growth certain concentrations within the safe limit, which will reflect positively on the farms, which can provide about 33%, 32.5%, 55.5%, 80%, 100%, 20% of the total amount of water used, manure, nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, and the number of human labor hours, respectively. The research suggests the following recommendations:
- Educate farmers and increase their knowledge of the nature of this type of irrigation water and the content of essential nutrients, whether organic fertilizer or metal ones.
- Encourage farmers to use wastewater triple treatment in agricultural irrigation to increase economic returns as a result they have to increase productivity in terms of reducing costs on the other.
- Oriented the Agricultural Extension Department of Irrigation and Drainage Authority Ahsa out the recommendation in fertilizer fit with the results obtained and their impact on the farmer and the environment.