Alterations in physico-chemical characteristics of soil after irrigation with Paper mill effluent

The effect of paper mill effluent on the physico-chemical properties of soils was studied under natural environment in pots experiment. The soil was treated to six rates of effluent viz. 5, 10 25, 50, 75 and 100 ml/Kg soil. The physico-chemical properties of the soil were determined before and at the end of the experiment, 12 weeks after irrigation with the effluent. Results revealed that among various concentrations of paper mill effluent, irrigation with 100% effluent concentration decreased moisture content (18.84%),WHC (13.26%), BD (5.63%) and increased pH (6.48%), EC (50.96%), ECEC (111.75%), Cl (101.53%), OC (2213.95%), HCO3 (15.65%), CO3 2(24.64%), Na (113.04%), K (48.27%), Ca (977.20%), Mg (1236.31%), Fe (127.76%), TKN (826.87%), NO3 2(74.96%), PO4 3(141.72%), SO4 2(56.98%), Zn (264.71%), Cu (230.94%), Cd (340.00%), Pb (968.75%) and Cr (797.11%) in the soil. Different effluent concentrations showed significant (P<0.001) effect on EC, pH, Cl, OC, HCO3 , CO3 , Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, TKN, NO3 , PO4 3and SO4 , Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr and Pb and insignificant (P>0.05) effect on, moisture content, WHC and bulk density after irrigation when compared to the control. The enrichment factor (Ef) of various micronutrients was in the order Pb>Cr> Cd>Zn>Cu.