IMPACT OF SUGAR INDUSTRY EFFLUENT ON SOIL BACTERIA AND GROWTH OF WHEAT AND MAIZE CROPS

Abstract

newlineThe direct and indirect contamination of agricultural field with sugarmill effluent has been known to alter the soil properties, crop yield and micro flora. In the present study effluent and effluent contaminated soil samples were collected from sugar mill agricultural area situated in Roorkee. The Physio-chemical properties of both effluents as well as soil sample were evaluated. Metals and antibiotic resistant bacteria were isolated from soil sample, optimized their growth conditions and identified through 16S rDNA sequencing method and the sequences were matched in NCBI sequence database by BLASTN tool. Effect of effluent on germination rate and growth of two crops wheat and maize was also analyzed. newlineIn this study physico chemical effluent and soil was found to exhibit high TDS, BOD, COD, organic and heavy metals concentration. Soil highly enriched with effluent has low indigenous bacteria flora since only effluent tolerating bacteria has been survived. Heavy metals tolerant bacteria E2, E7, E9, and E10 were isolated and were identified to be Bacillus licheniformis UTUE2, Chryseobacterium indologens SSE7, Enterobacter cloacae PRE9 and Terribacillus aidingenis SPE10. Bacteria prefer neutral pH 7 and 35 degree temperature for their growth except E9. While in presence of heavy metals mostly bacteria prefer low pH and optimum temperature. In antibiotic sensitivity test it was found that E10 showed highest resistance and E7 showed least resistance against antibiotics. All isolates exhibit resistance against Ampicillin, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone and Polymixin B. Effluent having concentration of 25 percent and 50 percent was found to have stimulatory effect on germination rate while, higher concentration showed inhibitory effects on germination rate and initial growth, root, shoot, fresh and dry weight of Triticum aestivum and Zea mays L. newline newline newline