Effect of distillery effluent on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Field experiment was conducted to assess the impacts of distillery effluent on physico-chemical properties of soil and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori and Paol). Plant growth parameters were recorded at 18 weeks after planting. Scarcity of oxygen and high salinity of soil were the main factors responsible for reduced vegetative and reproductive growth of wheat. The effluent in lower concentrations (up to 10 per cent v/v); however, had a beneficial effect on plant growth and increased the dry matter content and grain yield, possibly due to the presence of favorable amount of plant nutrients (NPK) in the diluted effluent. The study recommends the use of diluted distillery effluent for irrigation.