B. Niroula / Our Nature (2003) 1: 10-14
Comparative Effects of Industrial Effluents and sub- metropolitan Sewage of Biratnagar on Germination and seedling growth of Rice and Blackgram
Bhabindra Niroula Department of Botany, P.G. Campus, Biratnagar.
Abstract Comparative effects of effluents from six major industries viz. Diesel Power House, Hetaunda Iron and Steel, Hulas Wire, Himalaya Soap and Chemicals, Leather Industry, Shah Udyog and sub- metropolitan Sewage of Biratnagar on germination and seedling growth of rice and black gram were studied. Effluent of Himalaya Soap and Chemicals showed toxic lethal effect on both the test crops. On germination rice remained more sensitive and susceptible to the toxic effects of industrial effluents but black gram proved to be more tolerant. Effluents of Diesel power House and Shah Udyog remained toxic for seedling growth of black gram as their effects were significant while Leather Industry effluent showed toxic effect on rice for germination as well as seedling growth.
Introduction Growing industrial establishments without proper attention on pollution control measures have resulted adverse impact on the local environment in the city like Biratnagar (Lat N 26029', long E 87016'; altitude 72m). Due to availability of various infrastructure facilities several types of industries viz., Jute, Textile, Sugar, Leather, Soap. Plastic, Match, Iron rod, Galvanized iron products; stainless steel, liquors, biscuits, oil seed extraction mills etc. operate in Biratnagar. These industries as well as rapidly expanding Biratnagar sub metropolitan city discharge their untreated wastes directly into the natural environments (water courses, land, air) thereby polluting them (Sharma and Rijal 1988, Niroula 1996, Dahal et al. 1997, Jha and Niroula 1998, Shrestha 2000).
The use of wastewaters (industrial effluents as well as municipal Sewage) for irrigation has emerged in the recent past as an important way of utilization of wastewater taking the advantage of the
presence of considerable quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus along with some other essential elements. Other advantage of wastewater irrigation includes an important aspect of pollution removal. The pollutants are partly taken up by the plants and partly transformed in the soil without causing any damage. Nevertheless, the use of waste waters for agriculture is marred by several constraints due to various problems like soil salinity, interaction of chemical constituents of the wastes with the uptake of nutrients and changes in soil property and micro flora (Goel and Kulkarni 1994). This necessitates a detailed scientific study before any specific waste can be used for irrigation for a particular crop with particular soil and climate. Since crop plants are increasingly being exposed to the effluent discharge in the industrial area, an attempt has been done to study the comparative effects of six major industrial effluents and sub metropolitan Sewage of Biratnagar on germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper].