A study on microbial diversity of dairy effluent and its impact on growth of different plant species

With increasing industrial development, safe disposal of industrial effluent has become the more ecological challenge. Finding suitable eco-friendly techniques for the potential utilization of these released effluents as a source of nutrients becomes essential. The present investigation was carried out to screen the effect of different stages of dairy effluent on the germination index of Vigna radiata, Oryza sativa, Vigna mungo, Sesamum indicum and Arachis hypogea. The findings revealed a remarkable effect in germination index with primary treated dairy effluent when compared with the other stages of the dairy effluent in all the plant species except Arachis hypogea. Further work was carried out to study the effective and suitable concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of dairy effluent in promoting germination index, growth and biomass of different plant species. Biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll and protein were estimated. Chloride and sulphate content of the seedlings were also analyzed. The dairy effluent showed a favourable enhancement on the growth and biochemical parameters at low concentration (25%). It was observed that with an increase in effluent concentration there was a corresponding decrease in seedling growth and biomass. Microflora of the dairy effluents were isolated and characterized to study the frequent distribution of bacterial and fungal isolate which would support the degradation of organic and inorganic nutrients thereby influencing its growth and on the growth of the plant.