Sugar Mill Effluent Induced Changes in Germination and Biochemical of Hybrid Brinjal (Solanummelongena l. var. pruthvi)

Sugar mills play a major role in polluting the environment specially water bodies and land by discharging their effluent. This polluted water is being used for irrigation due to water scarcity. It harmfully affects the growth and yield of crops. In the present study, physico-chemical parameters of sugar mill effluent were recorded. It not only contains the toxic substances but also having same amount of nutrients which are needed for the growth of plants. The effect of various concentrations (control, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of sugar mill effluent on seed germination behaviour of hybrid brinjal (Solanum melongena L. var. Pruthvi) was studied. The morphological growth parameters such as germination percentage, seedling length, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, vigour index, and phytotoxicity were taken into consideration. The result shows that the lower concentration (10 percent) of effluent increased the germinating percentage and growth and higher concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100%) of effluent decreased the germination percentage, seedling growth, fresh weight and dry weight of brinjal and also biochemical such as chlorophyll, amino acid and starch.

Keywords:

Solanum melongena L. , sugar mill effluent , seed germination , phytotoxicity