Effect of distillery effluent on seed germination and seedling growth of M. polymorpha L

In this paper an attempt is made to assess the efficiency of distillery effluent on seed germination and seedling growth of M. polymorpha Linn. The effluent is acidic in nature having dark brown color and an aromatic odour. Effluent is rich in calcium, chlorides, phosphates, total dissolved solids, total dissolved nitrogen and organic pollutants. BOD value is quite high. The study showed that increasing concentration of effluent induced gradual decrease in seed germination and early seedling growth. M. polymorpha L showed maximum germination 93% in 5% effluent concentration. In 10%, 25%, 50%, and 70% effluent concentration 86%, 61%, 53% and 30% germination was recorded. However, 90% and 100% effluent concentration are highly toxic and did not show germination. Seedling of M. polymorpha L shows overall better result in low concentration of effluent. Root length and shoot length show maximum growth in 5% effluent concentration. The better result in low concentration might be due to enhancing influence of nutrients present in the effluent.