Two clay soils differed In their irrigation water resources were chosen and
wheat (Sakha 61 variety) was planted during 2002/2003 season. The first soli (soil 1)
usually irrigated with Nile water, while the second (soil 2) located In the terminal end
of irrigation canal and irngated with drainage water 10 years ago The objectives
were subjected to look upon and evaluate the effects of long-term Irrigation with
marginal drainage water on some sou chemical and physical proprieties, wheat
growth, yield and heavy metals content of soil and wheat plants. The obtained results showed that long-term reuse of marginal drainage
water in irrigating (soil 2) resulted in a remarkable increase in scil salinity and
scdrclty as compared to soil 1 These values siightly increased more after wheat
harvest than before plan:ing Total water stable aggregates (TWSA) > 025 rnrn
mean weight diameter' (MWD), optimum size (;f aggrega~ion (OSA %), structure
coe'ficient (SC) and aggregation Index (AIJ 'Nerf' lower .n SOil (2) tnan SOil (1) before
planting These values deer eased after wheat harvest and the reduct' In was more
pronounced in soil (2). DTPA-extractable micro-nutrients (Fe, Mn and ':'J) and heavy
metals (Pb, Cd and Ni) recorded r,igher values in soli (2) than sorl (1) before wheat
planting and slightly increased in soil (2) after wheat harvest. Data also showed that wheat growth parameters and yield component such
as number of tillers, number of spikes, maximum grovllh dry weight, biological yield,
straw yield, grain yield/plant were markedly reduced in soil (2). The heavy metals
(Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Ni) content (mg/kg dry mater) of wheat straw and grains
increased in soil (2) than soil (1) and were higher In straw than grains Special soil
and water management practices should be followed when the farmers were obliged
to reuse marginal drainage water for irrigation to reduce the hazard effects on SOil.
plant qrowth, yield c;uantity and quality, as well as, mankind ;',ealth