Impact of Dairy Industrial Effluent of Punjab (India) on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Triticum aestivum

Objectives: The aim of the present research was to study the impact of dairy industry effluent fertigation on agronomical characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Methods/Statistical Analysis: The treatments of such effluent, namely 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% were used for the cultivation of wheat. The effluent of such industry had significant amounts of nitrogen (28mg/l), phosphorous (13.10mg/l), potassium (168.2mg/l), copper (0.75mg/l), iron (<1mg/l) and nitrate (11.9mg/l) that may support plant growth. The effluent had no heavy metals like Cd, Co, Ni and Pb. Findings: The studies exposed that effluent at dilution of 50% showed the significant effect on seed germination percentage of 94.10 after seven days of irrigation. The shoot length (33.20cm), ischolar_main length (12.90cm), total growth of plant (46.10cm), dry weight (0.57g), chlorophyll content (0.60) and nitrogen content (2.70%) were increased after one month of treatment with 50% concentration at lab scale. Significantly increased shoot length (48.35cm), ischolar_main length (9.20cm), total growth of plant (57.55cm) and dry weight (0.71g) were observed maximum at concentration of 50% at pilot scale. The maximum agronomic performance of wheat was noticed with 50% concentration of dairy industry effluent. Application: The treated effluent of dairy industry had potential to be used as liquid fertilizer by mixing it with soil after appropriate dilution.