Abstract

The comparative impact of textile, tannery and sewage effluents on seed germination, biomass, leaf area, root development and chlorophyll contents in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Author(s): M.Gufran Khan

The use of industrial and sewage waste water for irrigation purpose has emerged as an important way of utilization of the presence of considerable quantities of essential elements and minimizing its pollution load. In view of such perspectives, an experiment was conducted to examine the comparative effect of textile, tannery and sewage effluents on seed germination, biomass, leaf area, chlorophyll content and root development in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants. Plants exhibited a marked reduction in seed germination and other physiological parameters when grown with higher concentrations (50 and 100%) of all the three effluents. However, the effect was promotive when plants were raised with lower concentrations. The effect of tannery effluent was more deleterious on all parameters as compared with textile and sewage effluents. The overall impact of the three effluents was tannery > textile > sewage in descending order of their toxicity. It was suggested that the effluent released from industrial establishments i.e., textile and sewage in particular,may be used for raising crops after appropriate dilution. Thismay facilitate the availability of essential nutrients and irrigation water which are often in scarcity. However, this recommendation needs further extensive studies with different kinds of effluents and plant species. In addition, this phytoremedial approach may also contribute substantially towards eco-friendly disposal of industrial effluents, a cumbersome problem for the management and farmers as well.