Influence of Dairy Effluent on Physiochemical and Biological Characteristics of Soil and Early Growth of Paddy (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to analyze the influence of dairy effluent at various concentrations (viz. 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) on cultivation of Oryza sativa L. (paddy). The results revealed that the effluent has a significant amount of nutrients and can alter the characteristics of the soil and Oryza sativa L. The soil was treated with different dilutions of dairy effluent for 30 days. There was observed a significant effect on the porosity, moisture, water holding capacity (WHC), organic carbon, humus content, bulk density, N, P, K, Ca, Cl and minor effect on the temperature, salinity, pH and conductivity. The characteristics like seed germination percentage, root length, shoot length, total plant growth, fresh and dry weight of seedlings were also upgraded at lower concentrations of dairy effluent in comparison to control. Moreover, paddy seedlings treated with lower concentrations of dairy effluent had an improved nitrogen content and chlorophyll amount. An effluent dilution of 50% showed best results of plant growth during early seedling growth phase as compared to other dilutions. The results propose that an effluent at concentration of 50% can be used effectively to cultivate paddy.