Studies on toxicity of viscose rayon factory effluents .2. Effect on soil.

The effect of viscose rayon factory effluent on physicochemical and biological properties of various types of soil was investigated. The data revealed that flooding the soil with the effluent resulted in decreased soil pH, hygroscopic moisture, water holding capacity, loss on ignition and organic carbon content of the soil whereas, EC %, nitrogen, phosphorous, chlorides, sulphates and metal ion contents were increased. The effluent treated samples contained the organic pollutants, tannin, lignin, oils and grease. The effluent treatment decreased the microbial population and microbial activity in the soil.