EFFECT OF EFFLUENTS FROM HATTAR INDUSTRIAL AREA ON SOIL AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

The research work reported in this thesis was conducted during 1995 to 1998 in the Department of Biological Sciences and Soil Fertility Survey and Soil Testing Institute Rawalpindi. Two types of soils, i.e., silt loam and sandy loam were selected from Hattar Industrial Estate. For this purpose initially a survey of soil types of the estate was conducted. Composite samples of Missa series from the vicinity of Dingi village were collected. This soil is a representative soil of silt loam (Soil No.1). Soil samples of Rajar series were collected from the fields located near Tube well stop. The soil is a representative soil of Sandy loam (Soil No.2). This composite soil samples were brought to the laboratory and were air-dried. After air drying these were filled in pots. Three wheat crops, i.e., 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 were grown consecutively. After wheat, maize was grown in the same pots during 1998. In the same soils, a separate set was used to grow eucalyptus plants for the three continuous years. The system of layout was completely randomized design with three replications. The crops and the plants were raised by using different treatments of effluents of textile industry, chemical industry and juncture of the outlets from these industries which were gathered along with city sewage of Rawalpindi nulla Lai from time to time. The effluents were analyzed for chemical (pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Soluble Salts (TSS), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), nutritional (total N, Ca, Mg and Na) and heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb) contents. Soil samples were analyzed for texture pH, EC, Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Organic Matter (OM), N, available P, extractable K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb before sowing plants. The yield and yield parameters data, i.e., plant height, fresh weight, dry weight and grain yield of crops/ plants was recorded. Effluents, soil samples and plants samples were analyzed for total N, available P, exactable K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb contents.