Influence of Treated Paperboard Mill Effluent Irrigation on Soil Micro Flora and Enzyme Activities

In the concept of waste recycling, several industrial effluents are used for irrigation of garden lands and agricultural fields. Though they are good source of nutrients, they may affect the soil microbial flora and the enzyme activities which play a vital role in biogeochemical cycles and their functions. In this direction, this study is aimed to explore the microbial flora and enzyme activities of soil irrigated with paper board mill effluent. The field experiment was conducted using bhendi as test crop in ITC (PSPD) model farm, Thekkampatti, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. Results showed that the application of treated paperboard mill effluent along with amendments had a significant effect on microbial population and soil enzyme activities. Application of vermicompost along with NPK had notable influence on soil biological properties.