Impacts of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent on the Germination and Growth of Gram Seeds

Different types of agro-based industrial effluents are generated from various sectors and discharged into the different water bodies as well as in soil, and these are seriously harming the biota of those areas. Nowadays, to reduce water consumption for irrigation, treated industrial waste is now commonly used. This study was conducted to evaluate the impacts of pulp and paper mill effluents on the growth of gram seeds. The Petri-plate culture technique was conducted to investigate the effects of pulp and paper mill effluents on gram seeds and the concentration of such effluents were taken in different concentrations i.e., 25.0 %, 50.0 %, 75.0 %, and 100.0 %, as well as one as control (distilled water) was used. Different physical-chemical parameters of paper mill effluent i.e., color, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, chemical and biological oxygen demands, dissolved oxygen, total hardness, total alkalinity, and oil and grease were evaluated. Growth metrics like seedling growth and germination percentage of gram (Cicer arietium L. variety: Pusa 372) seeds were measured on regular basis within 24 hours of interval daily for assessment of growth responses. Results indicated that the positive effect on seeds growth and germination of gram seeds occurred at a lower level of concentration (25 %) of paper mill effluent but at higher concentration of paper mill effluents (75 and100 %) there were negative impacts on seeds growth and germination.