EFFECTS OF TREATED SUGAR MILL EFFLUENT IRRIGATION ON SOIL AND HYBRID CULTIVAR OF EGGPLANT (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.) UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

The disposal of sugar mill effluent is a major problem in India due to generation of huge quantity of effluent in the sugar mills. The present investigation was conducted to study the effects of sugar mill effluent as an alternative of synthetic fertilizers. Six plots were selected for six treatments of sugar mill effluent viz. 0% (control), 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% for irrigation of Solanum melongena L., cv. Pusa Purple Long Hybrid-F1. The S. melongena was grown in sugar mill effluent irrigated soil till harvest and effects of sugar mill effluent on the soil and agronomical characteristics of S. melongena were analyzed. The concentrations of sugar mill effluent produced significant (P<0.05/P<0.01) changes in EC, pH, OC, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, TKN, PO43-, SO42-, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn of the soil in both seasons. The agronomic performance of S. melongena was increased from 20 to 60% concentrations of the sugar mill effluent in both the seasons compared to controls. The accumulation of heavy metals was increased in the soil and S. melongena from 20 to 100% concentrations of the sugar mill effluent in both seasons. The biochemical components like crude proteins, dietary fiber, total carbohydrates and total sugar in S. melongena were found maximum with 60% concentration of the sugar mill effluent in both seasons. The contamination factor (Cf) of various metals were in the order of Zn>Mn>Cd>Cu>Fe>Cr for the soil and Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>Cd>Cr for S. melongena in both seasons after irrigation with sugar mill effluent. Thus, sugar mill effluent irrigation increased nutrients in the soil and affected the growth of S. melongena in both seasons. Consequently, it can be used for irrigation in the lower proportion (up to 60%) to improve the yield of S. melongena.