## 4 Discussion  
From the results obtained in this study, it is evident that the use of distillery effluents from the processing of viticulture by-products represents a valuable strategy in the sustainable management of water resources and waste in arid regions. Regarding this, recent research has shown that these nutrient-rich effluents can be effectively used in crop  
Figure 3: (**a**) Biomass harvested (pasture and sorghum) in the plot assay under (kg/m\({}^{2}\) dry weight); (**b**) Total nitrogen contend in biomass; (**c**) Total phosphorus content in biomass; (**d**) Total potassium content in biomass; (**e**) Ash content in biomass; (**f**) Electrical conductivity in biomass. irrigation, contributing to agricultural production and reducing pollution load in arid regions. For instance, [PERSON] et al. (2015) analysed the reuse of vicultural wastewater in a drought context in California (2016). The authors noted that the treatment of this wastewater reduces the levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD\({}_{5}\)) and dissolved organic carbon, which minimises the negative effects on soil and plants. However, dissolved salts, especially sodium and potassium, persist after treatment, presenting a challenge for irrigation use. Despite this, overall salinity was moderate, and the treated water is, in most cases, suitable for salinity-tolerant crops such as grapes (2016). In this sense, the effluents treated in our study also presented high levels of salts, mainly Ca > K > Na > Mg (EC of EGM: 13.57 dS/cm; EC of V: 17.88 dS/cm). Therefore, it is recommended to dilute the effluent (9%). This dilution made it possible to reduce water consumption by 9% and to provide nutrients for the crops. On the other hand, [PERSON] et al. (2020) analysed wastewater treatment alternatives while considering the technical, economic, social and environmental aspects. The results showed that wastewater could be complemented but does not fully replace conventional water sources in the agriculture region. Among the options evaluated, the septic tank combined with a constructed wetland was the most sustainable according to local preferences. This study underlines the importance of integrating environmental and social criteria in decision-making on wastewater reuse (2017). This aspect should be considered to avoid the salinity risks associated with water balance and nutrient uptake by crops. In the case of this study, the challenge is to have an adequate effluent containment system, diluted effluent channelling, and sufficient arable land to avoid salinization problems. In addition, the water demand of the crops and the atmospheric demand must be considered in order to design a correct irrigation programme, avoiding temporary waterlogging and salt accumulation. Recent studies have evaluated the use of vinasse, a liquid residue generated in the production of alcohol from sugar cane, sugar beet, mezcal, and tequila, as a soil amendment. Although they provide nutrients and organic matter, they can also alter soil properties, increase salinity and negatively affect microbiota. The application of vinasse increases greenhouse gas emissions (CO\({}_{2}\), CH\({}_{4}\), and N\({}_{2}\)O), which contributes to global warming. The authors conclude that its agricultural use requires regulations and controlled doses to minimise environmental impact, especially in soils with high salinity and in areas close to water sources (2018). The effluent in our study presented different characteristics to those evaluated by these authors, presenting less risk of salinity and organic load. However, the recommendations by [PERSON] et al. (2016) (2018) should be considered to avoid environmental problems due to a cumulative effect of the application of effluents derived from the distillation of wine by-products. [PERSON] et al. (2020) evaluated the use of distillery effluent in maize (_Zea mays_) irrigation and found that this wastewater not only promoted vegetative growth but also improved soil properties, increasing the availability of essential nutrients (2019).