Coal Dust Induced Morphological and Biochemical Alterations of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan (L) millsp) in IB Valley Area

The present study was carried out to estimate the concentrations of different heavy metals present in the agricultural field adjacent to Lajkura opencast mine (Brajrajnagar, Odisha) and their effect on morphological and biochemical parameters of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in laboratory condition. Five heavy metals (Copper, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead and Zinc) were observed in significant concentrations in the agricultural field near to the mining activities. Comparatively the buffer zone of the mining area contained more heavy metals than the core zone. Among the heavy metals found in the agricultural soil, cadmium induced more effect than other heavy metals. It was found that the germination of the seed was delayed by 2 days in heavy metal treated soil as compared to control. Simultaneously the germination rate of seeds, stem height, leaf length, leaf width, root length decreased in cadmium treated soil as compared to the rest of the treated soil. Protein, carbohydrate, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were found minimum in cadmium treated set as compared to the control and other treated set but amino acid was found to be maximum in cadmium treated set but minimum in rest of the treated set.