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Nature, Environment and Pollution Technology

© Technoscience Publication

Vol. 2. No. 4. pp. 441-445 2003

EFFECTS OF WASTEWATER OF AMBANALA, AMRAVATI ON GROWTH

PATTERN OF SPINACH (SPINACEA OLERACEA L.)

D. D. KHEDKAR * and A. J. DIXIT**

* P. G. Department of Botany, Govt. Vidarbha Institute of Science & Humanities, Amravati – 444604

** P. G. Department of Botany, Vidya Bharati Mahavidyalaya, Amravati - 444602

ABSTRACT

The wastewater of Ambanala, Amravati has been utilized by farmers

bearing croplands in the vicinity of the Ambanala to irrigate the spinach

crop. Hence, in the present work the effects of the nalawater on growth of

spinach have been studied. Physico-chemical analysis revealed the alkaline

nature of the nalawater with high concentration of TDS, sodium and

phosphate, which exceed the permissible limits for the irrigation. The

nalawater has growth promoting effect on spinach at vegetative stage

whereas, at reproductive stage there seems to inhibiting effect on seed

setting and yield of the crop. The growth of nalawater-irrigated crop was

found to be more vigorous than well-watered plants.

INTRODUCTION:

Huge amount of wastewater is produced in the cities due to the increasing population. The

indiscriminate disposal of such sewage and industrial wastewater causes soil as well as water

pollution. The cost of treatment of sewage and wastewater is expensive. However, the

wastewater has been used in agriculture as a source of irrigation water and important plant

nutrients. Klimo and Fekette (1990) stated that sewage irrigation raised the N : P : K contents in

the soil. Reddy et al (1981) observed that sugarcane yield with paper and pulp industrial effluent

irrigation was higher as compared to that of well water irrigation. Singh and Mishra (1987)

attributed increased fodder yield to the essential nutrients contained in wastewater and sewage.

Mishra and Sunandashoo (1989) reported that chlorophyll contents, shoot length, number of

tillers per plant, dry weight of shoot, grain weight and total grain production of paddy were

increased when irrigated with paper and pulp factory effluent. Singh et al (1991) noticed that sewage increased and refinery effluent decreased dry matter yield of berseem.

The problem of sewage water can be solved only by effective use of this water. Big municipalities in India use this water for cultivation of the vegetables in the farmer’s fields. In

Amravati, Ambanala runs through the heart of the city and the water is polluted by the discharge

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of domestic waste. Since last two decades the practices of utilization of wastewater for irrigation

of variety of the crops like spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, onion by local farmers along the

stretch of 10 – 15 kms. approximately of nala is prevalent. In the present work an attempt is

made to study effects of nalawater on growth parameters of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.),

which is one of the most commonly grown and nalawater irrigated leafy crop in the region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

I. Physico-chemical analysis of nalawater (Site II)

The physico-chemical analysis of nalawater of site II was carried out with the help of water

analysis kit (VSI-07 Model) from April 2000 to March 2002. The water samples were collected on the fortnightly basis by using composite sampling method and were transported to the

laboratory in polythene containers to study various chemical parameters by the methods suggested in Theroux (1943), APHA (1998) and Gupta (2000).

II. Design of experimental plots

Out of five sites, site II is located near the farm of Shri. Ingole and is selected for the field studies

who also practiced the irrigation of spinach crop by nalawater. Two plots of 15 X 15 feet size

each were maintained for cultivating 100 experimental spinach plants each, irrigated by

nalawater. Whereas, two separate plots of the same size were prepared near the well where soil is

not contaminated with the nalawater and the control spinach plants in these plots were irrigated

by the well water. The distance between two succeeding plants in a row and in between two

adjoining rows was 1.5 feet each. The plants cultivated in all the plots were irrigated on every

forth day and irrigation was stopped ten days before harvesting. The sowing of spinach seeds in

the plots was carried by the end of the month of November 2000 and harvesting by the end of

March 2001. The data on growth parameters was recorded at an interval of 15 days from 15th

days to 90th

days after sowing during vegetative and reproductive phases of crop plants. The

growth parameters studied were 1) Plant height 2) Leaf growth 3) Branch growth 4) Flowering

and 5) Seed setting. The experiment was repeated during the year 2001 – 2002 by applying same

methodology and considering same growth parameters.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

I. Physico-chemical analysis of nalawater (Site II)

It is represented in table 1. The average pH of nalawater is 7.5, which is tended towards the

alkaline nature; however, it is within permissible limits for the irrigation water (6.5 – 8.5). The average value of the TDS (976.5 mg/l) was higher than the CPCB standards for irrigation. The

BOD was 171.5 mg/l, which was within permissible limits. The concentrations of sulphates, chlorides, calcium and magnesium were within permissible limits for irrigation, whereas the

concentrations of the sodium and phosphates exceeded the permissible limits for irrigation water.

II. Growth parameters

The effects of Ambanala water on various growth parameters of spinach are tabulated in table 2.

i) Plant height (cms.): As compared to the control plants, the plant height of polluted plants

revealed increasing trend on 15th and 30th days stage of growth. The results were in accordance

with those of Dutta (2002) who also recorded increase in plant height of rice plants on same

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stage of growth irrigated by the wastewater of the paper and pulp industry effluents. As

compared to 3 % and 10.5 % increase of the height of polluted rice plants over control at 15th

and

30th days stage of growth the spinach plants exhibited relatively higher % increase over height of

control in present study i.e. 20.45 % and 15.59 % respectively. The height of polluted spinach

plants declined on 60th and 75th days in comparison with those of control. Dutta also reported the

similar declining trends in height of polluted rice plants from 45th

days till maturity i.e. 135 days.

The decrease in height of the wheat plants (13.04 % ) was noticed by Singh et al (2002) by paper and pulp factory effluent was in line with those of present work. Chandrashekhar et al (1991)

also observed that plant height of Sorghum was significantly more with sewage than that of well water irrigation. Gladis et al (1996) reported decrease in height in Sorghum plants irrigated by

sewage water.

ii) Leaf growth: The average number of leaves per plant was not indicative of any

significant difference between control and polluted plants from 15th

to 45th

days stage of growth. However, on the 60th days the average number of leaves was relatively lower in polluted plants

as compared to that of control.10.53 % reduction in average number of leaves per polluted

spinach plants in present study almost match with 13.44 % reduction in number of leaves of

black gram irrigated with sewage water (Pradhan et al, 2001).

In general, there is an increase in average leaf area of polluted plants in comparison with

those of control from 15th to 60th day’s stages of growth. However the results were more

significant and remarkable on 45th

days when polluted plants shows (29.96 %) increase in leaf

area (385.5 sq.cms.) over that of control (296.24 sq.cms.). The observations gain more

prominence due to fact that, spinach is commercially leafy vegetable, which is to be harvested

and marketed at this 45th days stage of growth before starting of flowering. This is the most

appropriate and suitable time for marketing the crop. The present observation of increase in leaf

area due to nalawater irrigation were in agreement with those of Mishra and Behera (1991) and

Chaturvedi et al (1995) who have also reported enhancement in leaf area of rice and wheat

respectively by lower concentration of effluent. These lower green foliage leaves of spinach are relatively large in size than those of leaves borne on branches. These lower large sized leaves

dries up and falls off by the time of initiation of flowering.

iii) Branch growth: The development of branches was initiated after one month of vegetative

growth in both types of plants and continued up to flowering phase. However, the average numbers of branches per plant does not exhibit any marked difference in polluted and control

plants on 45th,

60th

and 75th

days of growth. The average length of branches slightly increases in polluted plants over those of control on 45th and 60th days’ stage. A reverse trend was noticed on

75th

days when the average length was reduced from 80.6 cms. in control to 71.2 cms. in polluted

plants amounting to 11.67 % reduction. Similar reductions in branch length (4.03 %) though

relatively low were noticed by Pradhan et al, 2001 in sewage treated black gram plant over tube

well treated plants.

iv) Flowering: The process of flowering starts 45 days after sowing. However, the speed is

slow in the beginning and it increases during later stages of growth. The flowering occurs during

the month of January – February. The average number of flowers per inflorescence was almost

similar on 75th

and 90th

day of growth in control as well as polluted plants (Table 3). During later

stages of growth i.e. on 75th to 90th days the average number of inflorescences per plant, average

length of inflorescence and average number of seeds per inflorescence declined in polluted plants

against those of control. These findings in present study matched with those of Pradhan et al,

2001 who noticed the reduction in number of pods per plant and grains per pod in black gram

plants irrigated with sewage over the tube well irrigated control plants. Subramani et al, 1995

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also reported decrease in number of pods per plant in Vigna radiata irrigated by distillery

effluent.

v) Seed setting: The average seeds per inflorescence were slightly decreased in polluted

plants than those of control. Similar types of findings were reported by Subramani et al 1995 in

Vigna radiata irrigated by distillery effluent. It is also evident from table 3 that average yield per

plant and weight of 1000 seeds was reduced inn polluted plants over those of control. Subramni

et al 1995 also reported similar decrease in seeds out put per plant in Vigna by 50 % distillery effluent irrigation. Pradhan et al 2001 reported similar decrease in yield in black gram when

irrigated with sewage water.

It was observed in the present study and also reported by farmers practicing nalawater and well

water irrigation of spinach plants that the plants irrigated by the nalawater shows relatively vigorous growth than those of well water irrigated plants. There was growth enhancing effect of

nalawater on spinach at 45th

days of vegetative growth in respect of increased I) plant height II) leaf area and III) length of branch. Some plant nutrients present in nalawater may possibly be

responsible for the growth promoting effect. 45 days old nalawater irrigated spinach crop is

ready for harvesting and marketing while well-irrigated spinach requires at least two months

time for harvesting and marketing. There was growth-inhibiting effect of nalawater on spinach

adversely affecting flowering, seed setting and yield.

From the present study it is inferred that the spinach crop should be irrigated by nalawater for

commercial marketing of spinach. It will be better to irrigate spinach crop with well water

whenever crop is cultivated for large-scale production of seeds for sowing in future.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors acknowledge University Grants Commission, New Delhi for rendering financial

assistance to Minor Research Project and Principal, VidyaBharati Mahavidyalaya, Amravati for

providing laboratory facilities

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Table 1. Physicochemical analysis of Ambanala water (Site – II)

S.NO. PARAMETER UNIT SITE II Permissible limits for

irrigation

1 TEMP 0C 28.73

2 PH 7.519 6.5 – 8.5

3 ORP mV 112.3

4 TDS mg/L 976.5 700 – 2000

5 COND meq/L 13.95

6 DO mg/L 3.16

7 CHLORIDE mg/L 145.2 142 – 355

8 BOD mg/L 131.5 200

9 COD mg/L 368.3

10 SULPHATE mg/L 22.75 0 – 192

11 SODIUM meq/L 6.58 3.0

12 POTASSIUM meq/L 0.28

13 MAGNECIUM meq/L 3.15 2.5 – 12.5

14 CALCIUM meq/L 3.92 3.75

15 PHOSPHATE mg/L 7.83 2.5 – 5.0

16 NITROGEN mg/L 8.23

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Table 2. Effect of Ambanala water (Site – II ) on growth parameters of control ( C ) and

Polluted ( P ) Spinach plants at 15 – 90 days after sowing (DAS)

DAS

Days

Average

Plant height

(cms.)

%

change

over

Control

Average No.

of leaves /

Plant

Average

Leaf Area

(Sq. cms.)

Average

No.of

Branches/

plant

Average

Length of

Branch

(cms.)

C P C P C P C P C P

15 4.4 5.3 + 20.45 6.1 6.2 9.68 12.72

30 14.8 17.1 + 15.14 19.6 19.4 96.12 103.25

45 34 36.8 + 8.2 63.1 63.0 296.24 385.0 7.5 7.1 28.5 30.8

60 72.5 59.9 - 17.38 109.3 97.8 416.1 430.5 7.3 7.9 58.7 62.4

75 121.9 109.8 - 9.93 11.0 10.6 80.6 71.2

90

Table 3. Effect of Ambanala water (Site – II ) on growth parameters of control ( C ) and

Polluted ( P ) Spinach plants at 60 – 120 days after sowing (DAS)

DAS

Days

Average

No. of

flowers /

Plant

Average No.

of

inflorescences

/ Plant

Average

length of

inflorescence

/ Plant

Average No.

of seed

/inflorescence

Average

yield /

Plant

(gms.)

Average

weight of

1000

seeds

(gms.)

C P C P C P C P C P C P

60 28.9 28.1 22.0 20.0 3.4 2.9

75 69.7 65.5 56.1 42.0 13.9 11.7 43.4 39.2

90 70.0 67.0 57.0 45.0 52.7 50.6 62.6 59.6

120 40.6 26.0 10.8 8.7

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