Biological Use of Fiber Industry Sludge and its Ash on Some Plant Species

Pages:206-210
Muhammad Uzair Khan and Kanwal Nazim1, Moinuddin Ahmed and Syed Shahid Shaukat2, Sikander Khan Sherwani3 (Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi, Pakistan1, Laboratory of Dendrochronology and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology Karachi, Pakistan2, Department of Microbiology, Federal Urdu, University of Arts, Science & Technology Karachi, Pakistan 3)

The Various industrial wastes contain organic matter and some essential nutrients which are needed for the normal plant growth. This study evaluates the effects of biological recycling of fiber industry sludge and its ash in different concentrations i.e. sludge 25 and 50g/6kg and ash 25 and 50g/6kg of some plants. Seed germination, seedling growth, survival, and dry weight of shoots and roots of three test species: Zea mays and Phaseolus lanatus (crop species) and Trifolium alexandrianum L. (fodder species) were observed. Heavy metal accumulation in soil and plant dry biomass was also analyzed. The results showed that plant species responded differently in different treatments. The results of ANOVA described that the seed germination and other growth parameters of all species were significantly suppressed at 50 g ash treatment. The highly sensitive response of shoot and root growth was determined in P.lanatus. However, dry weights of shoots and roots of T.alexandrianum were significantly reduced in all treatments. The analysis of heavy metals showed significantly high concentration in soil (P<0.001), while the accumulation of heavy metals in plants' dry biomass was also significantly different among treatments. It is highly recommended that industrial sludge and ashes must be properly checked before applying in any crop field as organic substitute. This study provides crucial information regarding quality and quantity of nutrients necessary prior to suggesting the suitability of an industrial waste as a fertilizer.