IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT IRRIGATION ON SOIL HEALTH AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY IN DAURALA BLOCK OF UTTARPRADESH
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Date
2011
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Publisher
IARI, DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Abstract
Sugar industries play an important role in the economic development of the
Indian sub continent, but the effluents released produce a high degree of organic
pollution in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. India has around 300 distilleries
with a total installed capacity of 3250 million litres per annum and a current yearly
production of 2300 million litres alcohol. Molasses, containing 8 per cent of sugar,
serves as a cheap source of raw material for the production of alcohol. For the
production of every litre of alcohol, nearly 14 to 15 litres of effluent is discharged,
thus every day 1000’s of litres of effluent are discharged from the factory. In
distillery industry, spent wash (effluent) obtained from yeast fermented molasses
after removal of rectified spirit. The RSW is highly acidic and contains easily
oxidisable organic matter with very high BOD, COD. Also, spent wash contains
highest content of organic nitrogen and nutrients. This effluent along with high
organic matter and potassium contents has significant levels of nitrogen which are
important ingredient to soil fertility. Along with easily biodegradable organic
matter, it also contains plant growth promoters like gibberellic acid (GA) and indol
acetic acid (IAA).A study was carried out to assess the long-term application of
secondary treated effluent to soil and its consequent impact on nutrient build up and
crop yield of wheat. The study area comprised of 14 farmers’ fields (7 distilley
effluent and 7 ground water irrigated fields) situated in Daurala in the district of
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India,(Fig. 1) where a molasses-based distillery with the
capacity of 300 KL alcohol per day is operating for the last 30 years. Seven farmers
were chosen with fields close to each other (PMDE-amended), located near the
distillery, where effluent was used as irrigation source for last 10 years at the rate of
about 200 m3 ha−1 as pre-sown irrigation. Another set of seven farmers were chosen
whose fields were close to each other (unamended-control), located 1 km away from
the distillery, where no effluent was applied and irrigation was provided only from
groundwater. First the effluent was analysed for its constituents then the two set of
fields were analysed for its nutrient content of primary, secondary and
micronutrients, and the uptake pattern of micronutrients in wheat grown in the two
set of fields. It was observed that Two to three times application of dilute secondary
effluent as a source of presown irrigation and subsequent irrigation with good water
on a long term basis will sustain the yield level of wheat; along with bringing down
the cost of cultivation of farmer by enriching the soil with many nutrients. Dilute
doses of effluent application for a long period will gradually build up the soil N , K,
organic carbon ,Ca, Mg, and with practically no increase in phosphorous content but
act as an enhancer of soil micronutrients like Fe, Mn, Zn, which was ultimately
reflected in nutrient enrichment of grain.
Description
T-8542