Effect of different industrial and domestic effluents on growth, yield, and heavy metal accumulation in turnip (Brassica rapa L.)

Abstract

In the suburbs of big cities, the vegetables are commonly irrigated with effluents due to paucity of good quality water. These effluents are loaded with toxic or heavy metals which may cause environmental or health hazard. The present study was performed in pot experiments to investigate the impacts of different effluents on the growth, yield, and heavy metals concentration of turnip (Brassica rapa). Pots were arranged in a completely randomized design with six treatments replicated four times. The treatments included 10% effluents of sugar mill, sewage water, soap factory, ghee mill, slaughterhouse, and control. Data on the weight of root plant−1 (g), root length, root diameter, yield ha−1, and heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cd) concentrations in roots were recorded and analyzed statistically. Results revealed that higher yield and related traits were recorded with sewage water followed by slaughterhouse wastage and sugar mill effluent. Application of sewage water enhanced 11.2% yield while the increment with slaughterhouse wastage and sugar mill effluent was 7.8% and 2.3%, respectively. Heavy metal concentrations were increased with all types of effluents. The transfer factors showed that accumulation of metals was in the order of Pb > Cd > Zn > Fe > Ni.