Evaluating the residual effects of distillery wastes on soil resilience in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation

Abstract

In India, the sugar industry is the second largest agro-based sector producing significant quantities of by-products like molasses, pressmud etc. Distillery waste, once considered an undesirable by-product of the sugar industry is now being repurposed to support sustainable agriculture. Among these by-products, treated distillery effluent (TDE), a type of wastewater, presents a valuable opportunity for reuse in agricultural practices. TDE can serve both as a source of irrigation water and as a provider of essential plant nutrients. The positive impact of organic matter on soil fertility and crop productivity are well documented. Therefore, applying TDE to soil can provide a dual benefit: it facilitates the safe disposal of industrial waste while enhancing agricultural production. To investigate this potential, a field experiment was conducted to assess the residual effect of TDE and bio-compost on the chemical and biological properties of soil, using paddy (Oryza sativa L. variety BPT-5204) as the test crop. The results indicate that applying TDE at a rate of 1.5 lakh L ha-1 (M4) combined with 100 % nitrogen supplied through bio-compost (S4) significantly improves soil chemical and biological properties. Therefore, this combination can be recommended as a nutrient source for residual paddy crop.