Effect of value added product from sugar and distillery industry on physico-chemical and biological properties of calcareous sodic soil

Abstract

The distillery effluents are disposed indiscriminately cause severe problems to soil and water quality. Therefore, to convert this effluents into an economic source of soil amendment as value added product (VAP) by biodigestion, reverse osmosis and evaporation process. Being a plant origin it is a rich source of essential nutrients for plant growth particularly potassium. In view of utilizing the VAP from distillery effluent as a substitute of inorganic K, a field experiment was conducted with different levels of VAP as a source of potassium along with inorganic nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers using Rice (TRY 3) as a test crop to study the influence of this VAP on physico-chemical and biological properties of sodic soil. The result of the study showed that reduction in soil pH and EC due to application of VAP with inorganic fertilizers. The addition of 125% STCR-K through VAP significantly favoured the availability of nutrients and organic carbon in soil, which was on par with 100% STCR-K through VAP and 75% STCR-K through VAP. The VAP with inorganic fertilizers also have positive influence on soil microbial population dynamics and enzyme activity. It has substituted 100% requirement of inorganic K fertilizers. Thus, the application of VAP will be a valuable substitute for inorganic fertilizers as well as safe option for disposal of the distillery industry waste.