Effect of industrial effluents on crop plants

Data on the effect of industrial effluents from a paper factory, an automobile industry, a textile factory and food and paper industry on soil properties, seed germination and seedling growth have been presented. The effluents of all the factories were alkaline and contained variable amounts of plant nutrient such as Ca, Mg, B, Fe and Cu. They also contained other toxic metals and minerals like Na, K and P and nitrate nitrogen in varying concentrations. The oxidizable organic matter content of all the effluents except from the automobile industry is very high. The raw effluents altered the physico-chemical properties of the treated soil, and they were responsible for reduction in the rate of germination of seeds. Diluted effluents, however, showed favorable effect of effluents on seedling growth.