Performance of Germination, Development, Yield, and Pigment on Irrigation with Untreated Paint Industry Wastewaterontagetes Erecta L. Var Pusa Basanti

Abstract

Tagetes erecta L. var Pusa basanti was used as the test plant to estimate the irrigation-potential of paint industry wastewater taken from Bergers Paint Private Limited situated at State Industrial Development Corporation, Samba, Jammu and Kashmir (SIDCO). The dilutions were prepared at T₀, T₂₀, T₄₀, T₆₀, T₈₀, and T₁₀₀ (concentrations ranging from 20% to 100%). The aim was to see the performance of germination, growth, yield, and pigment content at various concentrations. The parameters were found out to be maximum at the lowest concentration (T₂₀) with maximum dilution of 80%. Germination percentage was estimated to be maximum (41.6%). The positive parameters gave the highest values at 20% concentration (T₂₀), and values then declined giving the lowest value at 100% (T₁₀₀), and vice versa were obtained for the negative parameters. Growth parameters included length of root, shoot, root-shoot ratio, number of leaves, plant height, dry and fresh weight. These parametersindicated the peak values at lower concentrations and vice-versa was obtained at highest concentration.  The economic output increased at initial levels upto 60% and then declined. Stover yield though increased at T₂₀ but further at higher concentrations, it declined, and the harvest index was highest at T₁₀₀. The study revealed that lower wastewater concentration caused a stimulatory effect in chlorophyll a and b, whereas total chlorophyll was significant at higher concentrations. Total chlorophyll increased up to 60% concentration but decreased at a higher concentration as the number of days after sowing (DAS) increased. Correlation and ANOVA were performed, which clearly described that the various parameters showed a declining trend with the rising wastewater concentration.