International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 3(9), pp. 164-180, September 2014 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Fertigation response of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Okra) with sugar mill effluent in two different seasons

Vinod Kumar

Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science,

Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar-249404 (Uttarakhand), India. E-mail: drvksorwal@gmail.com. Tel: +91 1332 249091.

ABBREVIATIONS: ANOVA - Analysis of variance; BD - Bulk density; BIS - Bureau of Indian standards; BWW - Bore-well water; CD - Critical difference; Cf - Contamination factor; HI - Harvest index; LAI - Leaf area index; MPN - Most probable numbers; RT - Relative toxicity; SPC - Standard plate count; WHC - Water holding capacity.

Accepted 2 July, 2014

Abstract

The fertigation response of sugar mill effluent doses namely: 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% on Abelmoschus esculentus (var. IHR 31) in two different seasons, that is, rainy (Kharif) and summer (Zaid) seasons was investigated. The study revealed that fertigant had significant (P<0.01) effect on moisture content, EC, pH, Cl^-, OC, HCO₃^-, CO₃^-2, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, TKN, NO₃^2-, PO₄^3-, SO₄^2-, Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn and Zn and insignificant (P>0.05) effect on WHC and bulk density of the soil in both seasons. Fertigation with 100% sugar mill effluent concentration decreased moisture content (18.84-22.69%), WHC (13.26-15.61%), BD (1.40%) and pH (16.66-17.28%), and increased EC (84.13-86.47%), OC (3811.62-3961.90%), Na⁺ (273.00-302.59%), K⁺ (31.59-33.14%), Ca²⁺ (729.76-788.31%), Mg²⁺ (740.47-805.12%), TKN (1390.63-1445.54%), PO₄^3- (337.79-346.52%), SO₄^2- (77.78-81.07%), Fe²⁺ (301.90-345.26%), Cd (437.73-565.00%), Cu (417.57-419.13%), Pb (1487.50-1706.66%), Mn (1365.38-1382.52%) and Zn (333.33-348.32%) in the soil used for the cultivation of A. esculentus in both seasons. The agronomical performance of A. esculentus was recorded to be in increasing order from 5 to 25% in both the Kharif and Zaid season when compared to the control. The accumulation of heavy metals was increased in the soil as A. esculentus increased from 5 to 100% concentrations in both cultivated seasons. The contamination factor (Cf) of various heavy metals was in the order of Mn>Cd>Cu>Zn>Pb for soil and Cu>Mn>Zn>Cd>Pb for A. esculentus in both the Kharif and Zaid season after fertigation with sugar mill effluent.

Key words: Sugar mill effluent, Abelmoschus esculentus, fertigation, heavy metals, Kharif and Zaid seasons, contamination factor.