ABSTRACT
The choice of crop species to be irrigated will influence the type of water distribution system selected and the timing and depth of irrigationwater applied.In choosing the crop, a farmer is influencedby economics, climate, soil and water characteristics, management skill, labor and equipment availability, and tradition. If reclaimed wastewater is substitutedfora fresh water source, additional constraints are introduced. The degree to which the use of wastewater influences crop selection depends on the goals of the user and the treatment plant designers and on the wastewater properties. If the main objective is to produce a profitable crop on the maximum number of acres, and if the water quality is satisfactory according to agricultural criteria, then the use of wastewater will not greatly affect the choice of crop species.Where water quality is limiting or where other objectives intrude (such as wastewater disposal), the use of wastewater can greatly influence the selection of plant species.
