Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

IMPACT OF TANNERY SLUDGE ON THE MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF THE TREE SAMPLINGS USED FOR PHYTOREMEDIATION

V. Sakthivel and M. Vivekanandan

Abstract

In Tamilnadu, one of the important States in India, a large number of tannery industries operate and release huge volume of the tannery effluent and sludge that contaminate the nearby agricultural lands as well as the underground water. Besides, there is always a pungent and foul smell in and around the industry installations. From the perusal of literature, it is evident that an in-depth study is totally lacking with regard to reclamation of the tannery polluted soil for raising fast growing tree species either for fire wood or timber. Therefore, in the present study using pot culture method, the effect of tannery sludge on the growth of fast growing tree species was investigated as a prelude to employ right type of tree species in reclamation of tannery polluted soil. The plants raised in pots containing the garden soil served as the control. The morphometric parameters of the 12 months old tree saplings showed enormous proliferation of aboveground biomass and the overall growth was not affected at all.