Sewage water and sludge utilization for increasing the growth and yield of green chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at college of agriculture Shivamogga for effective utilization of sewage water and sludge generated from sewage treatment plant of college Campus. The experiment was conducted in a factorial RCBD consisting of two factors viz., irrigation source and manurial source each factor having three levels replicated thrice. Irrigation level consists of normal water (I1), treated sewage water (I2) and untreated sewage water (I3). Whereas manurial source consists of FYM 25 t ha-1 (M1), Sewage sludge @ 25 t ha-1 (M2) and FYM @12.5 t ha-1+Sewage sludge @ 12.5 t ha-1 (M3) resulting in nine treatment combination. The growth parameters of chilli plants viz., plant height, number of branches, dry matter, leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate and relative growth rate was enhanced by irrigation with sewage water irrigation and sludge application. Irrigation with untreated sewage water resulted significantly higher green chilli yield (15.36 t ha-1) as compared to irrigation with normal water (11.11 t ha-1) similarly application of sewage sludge @ 25 t ha-1 recorded maximum green chilli yield (14.98 t ha-1). Ascorbic acid content green chilli fruits was found significantly higher in irrigation with untreated sewage water (114.88 mg 100 gm-1) and application of sewage sludge @ 25 t ha-1 (126.81mg 100gm-1).