TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER USING AQUATIC PLANTS AND THEIR USE FOR IRRIGATION

Abstract

In recent years, major changes have been taking place in our Republic. Although Uzbekistan has long been considered an agrarian country, during the Soviet period mainly cotton and grain were cultivated on its territory. Today, not only a wide range of fruits and vegetables, cotton, grain, legumes, meat, silk, and leather products are produced, but the country has also gained a well-deserved place in the global market. The yield obtained from irrigated lands accounts for 95% of the total agricultural production. About 55–60% of irrigated lands are saline and waterlogged, 50% are subject to erosion, and 10–12% consist of gypsum and carbonate soils. In addition, low-productivity sandy, sandy-loam, stony and gravel soils are also found among irrigated lands. The development of the active soil layer is strongly influenced by its mechanical composition, porosity, quality, structure, moisture, temperature, and mineral content. The soil contains such chemical elements as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), sodium (Na), sulfate (SO₄), and carbonate (HCO₃).