Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of industrial effluent on the morphological parameters and chlorophyll content of green gram (Phaseolus aureus Roxb)

 

P.C. Nagajyothi¹, N. Dinakar¹, S. Suresh¹, Y. Udaykiran¹, C. Suresh²? and T. Damodharam*¹

¹Department of? Environmental Sciences, S.V. University, Tirupati - 517 502, India

²National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad - 500 007, India

(Received: March 07, 2007; Revised received: June 05, 2007; Accepted:July 07, 2007)

Abstract: A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of biomass power plant effluent on seed germination, seedling growth and chlorophyll content of green gram (variety LGG 460) have been estimated at different effluent concentrations and time intervals. The effluent is alkaline in nature (pH 8.5), odorless, and comprises of heavy metals such as Cr (0.071 mg l^-1),Cu (0.014 mg l^-1), Mn (0.036 mg l^-1), Fe (0.05 mg l^-1),Co (0.31 mg l^-1), Ni (0.041 mg l^-1),Cd (0.028 mg l^-1), Pb (0.108 mg l^-1) and? Zn (6.73 mg l^-1). The germination percentage of seed, seedling growth and chlorophyll content showed a gradual decline with increase in effluent concentration. It has been observed that at 25% effluent concentration, there is growth in the root length (3.50? cm seedling^-1), an increase in shoot length (23.90 cm seedling^-1) and total chlorophyll content (4.467 mg g^-1 fresh weight) up to 20 days. After 20^th day there is decline in all the parameters observed. However, at higher concentrations of the effluent, toxic effects were observed from 20^th day. This suggests that the effluent can be used safely for green gram cultivation, only after proper treatment and dilution.

Key words: Chlorophyll, Biomass power plant, Effluent, Seed germination, Seedling growth, Green gram

PDF of full length paper is available with author (* thotidamodharam@yahoo.co.in)

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