With increasing global water scarcity, population growth, and urbanization, the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture is gaining prominence as a sustainable solution for water resource management. This nexus between wastewater and agriculture presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, wastewater rich in nutrients can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, enhance crop productivity, and support irrigation in water-stressed regions. On the other hand, it can introduce contaminants such as heavy metals, pathogens, antibiotics, and emerging pollutants like microplastics and nanoplastics into soil and food systems, posing significant risks to environmental and human health. While research on wastewater reuse and agricultural sustainability exists, there is a lack of comprehensive, interdisciplinary resources that bring together the latest findings on contaminants of emerging concern such as microplastics, nanoplastics, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting compounds within the context of agricultural reuse.

The primary purpose of this book is to address the growing global challenge of safely integrating wastewater into agricultural systems while safeguarding environmental health and food security. As freshwater resources become increasingly scarce, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, treated wastewater is emerging as a vital alternative for irrigation. However, this practice is not without risks ranging from the accumulation of contaminants in soil to the transfer of pollutants into crops and the food chain.

This book tackles the complex issue of safe wastewater reuse in agriculture, a critical solution to global water scarcity. While treated wastewater can enhance irrigation and reduce fertilizer use, it often contains contaminants like microplastics, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals, posing risks to soil health, crops, and food safety. Existing research is fragmented, and practical, integrated guidance is limited. This book fills that gap by combining science, case studies, and policy insights to help stakeholders understand, monitor, and manage risks effectively offering sustainable, evidence-based strategies for balancing agricultural productivity with environmental and public health protection.

Dr. Lalita Rana is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Agronomy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India, with 8 years of academic and research experience. She is handling research projects and guiding M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. She has published 40 research papers in national and international journals, 30 popular articles in farmer-friendly magazines, 20 book chapters, 2 authored books, and 6 edited books. She serves as an Editorial Board Member of Discover Applied Sciences, Discover Agriculture, and Plant Science Today. She is also a Guest Editor for Frontiers in Agronomy and Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Dr. Ayman El Sabagh is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University, Türkiye. His research primarily focuses on abiotic stress tolerance in plants and enhancing crop resilience under changing climatic conditions. He has published more than 200 research articles, 25 review articles, 2 books, and 50 book chapters in reputed national and international publications. He has also published two books with Springer Nature. He was included in the list of the World's Top 2% Scientists (2023–2024) released by Elsevier in collaboration with Stanford University.

Dr. Jitendra Rajput is currently working as a Scientist at the Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, India. He is the recipient of the Prof. B. V. Ramana Rao Best Paper Award–2024 by the Association of Agrometeorologists. His research interests include the design of micro-irrigation systems, canal irrigation systems, climate change, groundwater carbon footprint, and land and water resources management using geospatial tools and soft computing/AI techniques. Dr. Rajput has published 56 national and international research articles.

Dr. Sumit Sow is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Agronomy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India. His research focuses on the toxic effects of metals and their remediation, soil health, and precision nutrient management. Dr. Sow has published more than 60 peer-reviewed research articles, 10 books, and 58 book chapters. He has also reviewed more than 50 manuscripts for reputed journals and has received multiple awards for his contributions to agricultural research and academia.