Abstract:
Effect of domestic effluents on tomato crop (
Solanum lycopersicon MILL.) production” was carried out during 2015-2016 in pot experiment in the experimental farm of Department of Environmental Science, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan which is located at an altitude of 1273 m amsl and at latitude of 35.5°N, longitude of 77.8°E. The studies were conducted in pot experiment, comprising of 4 treatments viz., T
1 (75% of domestic effluent), T
2 (50% of domestic effluent), T
3 (25% of domestic effluent) and T
4 (control, pond water). The whole set of experiment was carried out in 3 replications in CRD. The analysis of effluent (100%) indicated pH in the range of 5.92 - 6.84, As content below permissible level, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe and Pb content above permissible level except for pond water, high, Hg content (much above the permissible level) and negligible amount of Ni. Statistically, lowest number of flowers and lowest number of fruits were recorded at treatment T
4 (control, pond water) as compared to domestic effluent. Lowest leaf area was recorded at treatment T
4, respectively. Lowest plant height was recorded in treatment T
4, respectively. The number of branches varied from 2-3. The highest tomato fruit weight and yield was recorded in treatment T
1, respectively. The As, Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb content was below permissible level, whereas, Fe content was above the permissible level for soil and Ni was negligible. Heavy metal contents for tomato leaves and fruits was below the permissible level. The N, P, K values for soil, leaves and fruits of tomato varied, respectively.