Textile Effluents in Cotton Irrigation: Phytotoxicity and Circular Economy Perspectives

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the phytotoxic effects of a textile effluent using cotton species, with the aim of enabling non-potable reuse in the irrigation of this crop. Theoretical Framework: The textile sector generates waste, organic pollutants, and toxic substances, which, when released into water bodies, cause environmental imbalance. Phytotoxicity assesses the toxic effects of substances on plants, identifying the potentiation or inhibition of seed germination. Method: Acute phytotoxicity was conducted in the laboratory, with incubation for 120 hours, using Petri dishes and filter paper. Chronic bioassays were performed in an agricultural greenhouse for 21 days, at concentrations of 10 and 100 mg.L-1. The data were subjected to ANOVA, Dunnett and Tukey tests, and Germination Index. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that in the acute bioassay there was an enhancement of cotton seed germination, with only some moderately phytotoxic indices obtained for the species *G. herbaceum*. In the chronic phytotoxicity test, no significant chronic effects on the plant growth and biomass endpoints were observed. Research Implications: It is suggested that future research should extend the plant life cycle in the chronic analysis and analyze the physiological aspects of cotton, as well as the soil. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by reinforcing the potential of cotton seeds as resistant organisms in ecotoxicology and demonstrating that textile effluents may have the potential to stimulate plant development.