Sunita Yadav, Geeta Negi and Anita Sharma
Abstract
Health of two soils (industrial and agriculture field) was compared on the basis of enzyme activities, microbial population and performance of wheat crop. Sugar mill soil was found to have higher organic carbon, organic matter, macro- and micronutrients (Zn and Cu was 6 and 3 times higher) in comparison to agricultural soil. Sugar mill soil had higher microbial population but did not show dehydrogenase activity. Activities of fluorescein diacetate hydrolase, arylesterase, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, protease and urease enzymes were significantly high in sugar mill soil than the agricultural soil. Wheat plants grown in sugar mill soil showed higher chlorophyll, protein, amino acids and sugar content. Fresh and dry weight of wheat plants were 9 and 21% higher in sugar mill soil than the agriculture soil.