Vinod Kumar - Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249404, India
A.K Chopra - Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249404, India

Background The disposal of sugar mill effluent hasbecome a major problem in India due to generation of hugevolume of effluent. The value of wastewater for crop productionhas been recognized in many countries, includingIndia. The effluents not only contain nutrients that stimulategrowth of many crops, but also may have various toxicchemicals, metals, metallic oxides along with nitrogenousand phosphate compounds, which may affect various agronomicalcharacteristics of crop plants. The present investigationwas conducted to asses the agro-potentiality of agrobasedsugar mill effluent as ferti-irrigant, and an alternativeof irrigation water. Six plots were selected for six treatmentsof sugar mill effluent viz. 0 % (control), 20, 40, 60, 80, and100 % for the fertigation of Pennisetum glaucum L., cv.Nandi 35. P. glaucumwas grown, fertigated with effluent tillharvest and effect of effluent fertigation on the soil andagronomical characteristics of P. glaucum were analyzed.Results The fertigant concentration produced changes inelectrical conductivity (EC), pH, organic carbon (OC),sodium (Na?), potassium (K?), calcium (Ca2?), magnesium(Mg2?), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), phosphate (PO43-),sulfate (SO42-), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr),copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) of the soil inboth seasons. The agronomic performance of P. glaucumincreased from 20 to 40 % in both seasons compared tocontrols. The accumulation of heavy metals increased in soiland P. glaucum from 20 to 100 % sugar mill effluent concentrationsin both seasons. Biochemical components likecrude proteins, crude fiber, and crude carbohydrates werefound maximum with 40 % sugar mill effluent in bothseasons. The contamination factor (Cf) of various metalswere in the order of Mn[Zn[Cu[Cd[Cr for soil andMn[Zn[Cu[Cr[Cd for P. glaucum in both seasonsafter fertigation with sugar mill effluent. Sugar mill effluentirrigation increased nutrients in the soil and affected thegrowth of P. glaucum in both seasons.Conclusions It appears that sugar mill effluent can beused as a biofertigant after appropriate dilution to improveyield of P. glaucum.

Pennisetum glaucum Sugar mill effluent Fertigation Heavy metals Rainy and summer season