Effect of Metal Pickling and Electroplating Industrial Sludge-Borne Heavy Metals on Wheat (Triticum aesativum) Seedling Growth

A pot culture study has been undertaken to evaluate the effect of rolling and pickling industrial sludge amendments on growth response and bioaccumulation of heavy metal in wheat seedlings. Processed acidic waste was first treated with three doses of lime (0, 0.5 and 1%) and then mixed with two soils in different ratios (0, 10 and 20%). Samples were filled in earthen pots (2Kg/pot) one week before planting and seven days old wheat seedlings (3 per pot) were transplanted in these pots and pots were kept in glass house. Temperature of glass house was maintained at 22±2C and moisture contained at 50% of water holding capacity. DTPA extractable heavy metals and metals in seedlings increased with increasing doses of industrial sludge amendments. Biomass and growth has been also found to increase with increasing rate of sludge. Lime enhanced the biomass and reduced the heavy metal concentrations. Although 20% treatments in both soils showed a significant enhancement in shoot length but metals like Pb was found beyond permissible limit. The heavy metal in wheat seedlings follow the trend Zn>Pb>Cu>Cd. Lime has a negative correlation with availability and uptake of heavy metals. Results showed that application of lime treated industrial sludge to soil could be useful in order to increase crop growth in the glass house. [Nature and Science 2010;8(3):1-8]. (ISSN: 1545-0740).