Appraisal and Impact of Paper Mill Effluent on Crop Growth and Soil Properties

摘要

With growing competition for water in different sectors, utilization of effluent water in agriculture isnimperative. Paper mill effluent could be used in this sector as the effluents were found to be neutral, low saline andncontained Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, F-, B, Cl-, SO4n2-, NO3n-, CO3n2- and HCO3n- ions at low to moderate concentrations. Irrigationnby Emami paper mill effluent at different dilutions with fresh water had improved crops’ yield attributes. No adversenimpact on crop nutrients’ uptake or soil properties was noticed. These depict that >60 to u0001 80% dilutions of (Emami)npaper mill effluent with fresh water is optimal for proper growth of blackgram and maize, >20% for greengram andn< 60% for rice and sunflower grown on acidic laterite soil in pots. Thus the study reveals that paper mill effluentnholds promise for use in irrigation if diluted to levels within the acceptable limit of crops.