International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 4(6), pp. 117-125, June 2015 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of pulp and paper mill effluent disposal on soil characteristics in the vicinity of Uttaranchal Pulp and Paper Mill, Haridwar (Uttarakhand), India

Vinod Kumar*, A.K. Chopra, Sandeep Kumar, Jogendra Singh and Roushan K. Thakur

Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar- 299404 (Uttarakhand), India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: drvksorwal@gmail.com.

Accepted 18 May, 2015

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to study the effects of pulp and paper mill effluent disposal on soil characteristics in the vicinity of Uttaranchal Pulp and Paper mill, Haridwar (Uttarakhand), India. The results showed that the values of TS (1372.75 mg L^-1), TDS (1008.50 mg L^-1), TSS (364.25 mg L^-1), BOD (1226.50 mg L^-1), COD (2832.50 mg L^-1), SO₄^2- (678.00 mg L^-1), Cu (1.37 mg L^-1), Cd (0.221 mg L^-1), Pb (0.06 mg L^-1) and Zn (0.38 mg L^-1) were found beyond the prescribed limit of BIS standards for drinking water. Moreover the values of TSS, BOD, COD, Cd, Cr and Cu were noted above the prescribed limit of BIS standards for irrigation water. The disposal of paper mill effluent showed significant (P<0.05) changes in soil characteristics. The soil parameters namely: moisture content (10.19%) and WHC (11.48%) were decreased, while pH (2.75%), EC (126.08%), Cl^- (46.35%), OC (38.70%), Na⁺ (66.44%), K⁺ (24.03%), Ca²⁺ (72.16%), Mg²⁺ (144.97%), TKN (66.73%), PO₄^3- (238.83%), SO₄^2- (23.78%), Cd (1451.47%), Cr (2082.85%), Cu (115.47%), Fe (107.81%), Pb (496.51%) and Zn (138.68%) of the soil were increased after disposal of paper mill effluent in comparison to control soil. The contents of heavy metals in the paper mill effluent contaminated soil were found to be below the maximum levels permitted for Cd (6.0 mg Kg^-1), Cr (10.0 mg Kg^-1), Cu (270 mg Kg^-1), Fe (1000 mg Kg^-1), Pb (250 mg Kg^-1) and Zn (600 mg Kg^-1) for soil in India. Among different heavy metals, Cr (21.82) showed maximum contamination, whereas Fe (2.08) showed minimum contamination. The contamination factor of heavy metals in the soil was recorded in the order of Cr>Cd>Pb>Zn>Cu>Fe after disposal of paper mill effluent. Thus, paper mill effluent significantly affected the soil characteristics in the vicinity of effluent disposal.

Key words: Enrichment factor (Ef), heavy metals, pulp and paper mill effluent, soil characteristics.