Pollution Research Paper

IMPACT OF SUGAR INDUSTRY EFFLUENT ON THE GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETER OF BRINJAL PLANT (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.)

S.P. ADHIKARY

Abstract

There is a cooperative sugar mill and distillery commissioned four decades ago, at Aska, in the vicinity of a College. The industry uses raw sugarcane and is generating huge quantity of effluents which is main polluting source to land surface water. Agro-industrial waste or any cellulose based industries unutilized organic matter and cause environmental problems like dispersing foul odour, occupying vast areas, ground and surface water pollution etc. Effluent originating from sugar industry is a rich source of organic matter and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and sulphur. In addition, it contain sufficient amount of micronutrients. Basing on above view, a study was conducted to known the quality of effluent generated from sugar industry and influence of its different dilution on Brinjal plant. Brinjal plant (Solanum melongena L.) is a important vegetable of the people, which contains important alkaloids, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. A pot culture experiment was conducted in botanical garden of Aska Science College campus to study the influence of different dilution of effluent on the growth and biochemical parameters of the Brinjal plant. The results showed that, the vegetative growth viz. shoot length, root length, shoot weight and root weight of plants were highest in 20 mL/kg soil crude effluent treatment compared with control and followed by 30 mL/ kg, 10 mL/kg and 40 mL/kg of soil treatment. The similar trends of results were also noticed in chlorophyll, carbohydrate and protein contents of 30 days old Brinjal plant. The pot experimental studies suggest the possibility to using judicious application of crude effluent will improve crop productivity and alleviate environmental pollution problems. Awareness should be created among the farmers to economies crude sugar industry effluent through dilution in proportionate manner and improve the crop system.