Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of leather industry effluents on soil microbial and protease activity

Author Details

M. Reddi Pradeep

Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Virology, Sri Venkateswara University,

Tirupati - 517 502, India

G. Narasimha

(Corresponding author)

Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Virology, Sri Venkateswara University,

Tirupati - 517 502, India

e-mail: gnsimha123@rediffmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

26 May 2010

Revised received:

12 December 2010

Re-Revised received:

4 June 2011

Accepted:

14 June 2011

Abstract

Release of leather industry effluents into the agricultural fields causes indicative changes in nutrient cycling and organic matter processing. In the present study, leather industry effluent discharged soil (test) and undischarged soil (control) were collected from the surrounding areas of industry. The physico-chemical, biological properties and soil protease activity were examined. The study reflected the average mean value of pH, electrical conductivity and water holding capacity of the test soil was found to be 7.94, 0.89 ?Mhos cm^-1 and 0.51 ml g^-1, respectively. In chemical parameters, organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium has the mean of 6.73%, 0.23 g kg^-1, 4.28 mg g^-1 and 28 ?g g^-1, respectively. In all the respects, the test soil showed higher values than the control. The soil protease enzyme activity was determined by using substrate casein and the activity was found to be higher (180 ?g TE g^-1 24 hr^-1) in test soil than the control soil (63 ?g TE g^-1 24 hr^-1). ??

Key words

Leather industry effluents, Soil microbial activity, Biological parameters, Protease activity

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