Studies on the Effects of Land Application of Sugar Factory Waste on Physicochemical Properties of Soils under Crop of Cicer Arietinum L.

Sugar factories generate usually high quantities of organic waste, which is often used for irrigation with or without treatment. Such irrigation practices, if carried out unscientifically, can deteriorate physicochemical properties of soils and affect the plant growth and beneficial soil micro-flora. In this study, effects of sugar factory waste on physicochemical properties of soils under crop of gram (Cicer arietinum L.) have been evaluated. The soil showed marked changes in its physicochemical properties after application of the waste. The soil has shown an increase in organic matter, chlorides, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. However, nitrogen and phosphorus grossly remained unaffected as compared to control soil. The pH in all the soils remained neutral or slightly acidic. The increase in total solute concentration is the result of continuous evapotranspiration, which leaves salts behind in the soils. These salts accumulate in long run making the soils unsuitable for plant growth. Sodium blocks the exchange sites of soils, minerals and organic matter that make the soils to disperse and impermeable to water. Such soils develop a dark brown surface crust of salts and usually called as sodic or black alkali soils. Ca : K ratio was found to be decreased with the wastewater irrigation. The usefulness of wastewaters in irrigation can be a good means of their recycling as has been suggested by several workers, but the irrigation cannot be carried out indiscriminately with wastewaters. It is often necessary to give some degree of treatment to most wastewaters before using them for irrigation. Dilution can also be carried out in case of high quantities of salts present in wastewaters. This will help in preventing deterioration of soils in long run.