Effect of digested spent wash on nodulation, nutrient uptake and photosynthetic activity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum)
Abstract
The distillery waste water generally known as spent wash is
amongst the worst pollutants produced by industries. Production of
spent wash is a continuous process, therefore it can be used not only
for irrigation purpose but also for preventing the environmental hazard
and can serve as a potential source of fertilizer if used rationally and in
appropriate concentration. Therefore, the present study was
undertaken with the objectives to study the effect of graded doses and
methods of application of digested spent wash on seed germination,
nodulation, nutrient uptake and photosynthetic activity in chickpea.
Digested spent wash used during present study was collected from Panipat
distillery. It was red brown in color having unpleasant smell, pH slightly
alkaline (pH 7.92) and EC, 20.5 dsm-1. Total carbon and nitrogen contents of
digested spent wash were 3.94 gL-1 and 1.21 gL-1 respectively. Under
laboratory conditions, lower concentrations (2.5-20%) of digested spent wash
were not inhibitory to seed germination. Although 100% seed germination was
observed at 50% spent wash concentration but it lead to poor seedling growth
and delayed seed germination. Germination percentage and seedling growth
were retarded at 100% concentration of digested spent wash. Under pot house
conditions, 100% seed germination was observed up to 20% concentration of
digested spent wash (applied along with irrigation) and 250 m3ha-1 (applied as
soil amendment) of digested spent wash. There was complete failure of seed
germination at higher concentrations (50% and 500 m3ha-1) of digested spent
wash.
Increased concentrations of digested spent wash affected the
nodulation of chickpea. Inclusion of digested spent wash with irrigation
affected the nodulation even at lower concentration (5%) whereas application
of digested spent wash in soil upto 100 m3ha-1 did not have adverse effect on
nodulation. Lower concentrations of digested spent wash up to 5% (applied
along with irrigation) and 50 m3ha-1 (applied as soil amendment) had no
detrimental effect on plant growth (shoot length, root length and their weight).
Higher concentrations of digested spent wash (applied as irrigation or as soil
amendment) were inhibitory to plant growth. Photosynthetic activity of
chickpea plants measured in the form of chlorophyll a flurescence it was
maximum at 10% (applied along with irrigation) and 100 m3ha-1 (applied as
soil amendment) of digested spent wash. Slight decrease in chlorophyll a
fluorescence was observed at higher concentrations. With increase in
concentration of digested spent wash, there was decrease in N and P uptake
by chickpea plants. No significant difference in pH of different treatments was
observed in post harvest soil with application of digested spent wash.
However, EC of the soil increased with increase in concentrations of digested
spent wash (applied as irrigation), while it was well maintained with one time
application (soil amendment) of digested spent wash. With increase in
concentrations of digested spent wash, there was significant increase in
organic carbon, total N and P content of post harvest soil.
Description
Keywords
Irrigation, Costs, Trickle irrigation, Fruit products, Irrigation systems, Investment, Manpower, Area, Crops, Furrow Irrigation