Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

S. M. Kulkarni ¹, P. K. Goel ¹

Affiliations
1 Deptt. of Pollution Studies, Yashwantrao Chavan College of Science, Vidyanagar, Karad-415 124, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Sugar Factory Waste, Wastewater Irrigation, Land Application, Soil Characteristics, Cicer arietinum L.

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D. G. Kadam ¹, G. R. Pathade ², P. K. Goel ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, DBF Dayanand College, Solapur-413002, Maharashtra, IN
2 P.G. Deptt. of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, IN
3 Deptt. of Pollution Studies, Yashwantrao Chavan College of Science, Karad-415 124, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Microbial succession in casts of Eudrilus eugeniae and in the control (compost without earthworms) was studied over a period of 120 days of incubation by maintaining optimum moisture conditions throughout the experiment. Total viable counts of different types of microorganisms such as total viable bacteria, total viable Gram negative bacteria, total phosphate dissolving bacteria, total fungi, total phosphate dissolving fungi, total actinomycetes, phosphate dissolving actinomycetes, total Azotobacter population and total nitrifying bacteria were noted as colony forming units per gram (CFUs/g) in casts and control using suitable growth media.

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H. V. Deshmukh ¹, G. R. Pathade ², P. K. Goel ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Y. C. Institute of Science, Satara-415 001, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, IN
3 Department of Pollution Studies, Y. C. College of Science, Karad-415 124, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The study was made to see the biomethanation potential of 14 commonly present weed plants alone and in combination with some agro-industrial wastes like distillery, sugar, dairy and farmhouse. The plants were used in the original form and after mild alkali treatment to see effect of softening of the tissues. There was a marked increase in biogas production after pretreatment in almost all the plants. The mixing of agro-industrial wastes also enhanced the capability of weeds to produce biogas. In general, Ipomoea carnea showed the best results alone as well as in combination with the wastes, especially distillery waste. The use of these plants can be made to supplement the conventional substrates like dung in rural areas to augment the biogas production.

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Bhagyashri U. Jadhav ¹, S. S. Sathe ², P. K. Goel ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Pollution Studies, Yashawantaro Chavan College of Science, Vidyanagar, Karad-415 124, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Botany, Raje Ramarao Mahavidyalay, Jath, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Krishna River is one of the 14 major rivers of India, which originates from Mahabaleshwar and flows all across southwestern Maharashtra covering several important towns like Wai, Satara, Karad and Sangli. The present study was made in the Krishna River at two sites, mainly Eksar and Wai. The Eksar site is before entering of the river at Wai. The Wai is holy city and comparatively a polluted city due to religious and cultural activities. The purpose of taking Eksar site was mainly for comparison purpose. A total number of 42 species was recorded in the Krishna River belonging to four major classes, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae. Algal species recorded at Wai are highly tolerant to organic pollution, while the species obtained in the untainted section before water enters in Wai have comparatively several sensitive species. This indicates that the water is non-polluted or relatively less polluted at Eksar. The Palmer's algal index shows very low organic pollutants at Eksar and probable organic pollution at Wai. Shannon's diversity index reveals that the human activity at Wai has made the river highly polluted, which at a glance looks like of no direct use. Simpson's index is used to assess the dominance of algal species. According to the Simpson's index, species are not evenly distributed in both the sites. Environmental Gini index also shows the Wai as comparatively a polluted site.

Keywords

Algal Studies, Diversity Indices, Krishna River.

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