Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of municipal wastewater on rice seed germination, seedling performance, nutrient uptake, and chlorophyll content

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology volume 18, pages 9–19 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The sand medium experiment was conducted in the laboratory with the aim of evaluating the suitability of municipal wastewater (treated and untreated) at different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100%) for irrigation purposes on seed germination, seedling performance, nutrient uptake, and chlorophyll content of rice (MR220). The utilization of municipal wastewater for irrigation purposes has developed an important way to exploit the nutrients it contains. The study indicated a significant (P < 0.05) difference between untreated and treated municipal wastewater for seedling length (SL), root volume (RV), root surface area (RSA), seedling vigor index (SVI), and root: shoot ratio (R : S) while no significant different was observed between untreated and treated municipal wastewater for germination percentage (GP) and percentage phytotoxicity (PPT). The municipal wastewaters had stimulatory effect on the rice seeds at lower wastewater concentrations (< 25%) while inhibitory effect was observed at higher wastewater concentrations (> 50%). N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn were high in the untreated municipal wastewater compare to treated municipal wastewater. Seedlings irrigated with untreated municipal wastewater have high seed germination, seedling performance with high nutrient uptake compare to treated municipal wastewater. The municipal wastewaters showed inhibitory effect on chlorophyll content. The inhibition effect was observed at > 50% concentration of both untreated and treated municipal wastewater while promoting effects were observed at lower (< 25%) concentration. The rice MR220 variety showed better growth resistance, tolerance, and adaptability to wastewater. This can be due to its excellent genetic makeup and capacity to sustain the toxicity. Conclusively, municipal wastewater could be recommended as a good source of water and nutrient for seed germination and seedling performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Abbreviations

MR:

Malaysian rice

N:

nitrogen

P:

phosphorous

K:

potassium

Ca:

calcium

Mg:

magnesium

Zn:

zinc

Fe:

iron

Cu:

cupper

Mn:

manganese

References

  • Abu NE, Ezeugwu SC. 2008. Risk evaluation of industrial wastewater on plants using onion (Allium cepa L.) chromosome aberration assay. Agro-Sci. 7: 242–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Baki AA, Anderson JD. 1973. Vigour determination in soybean by multiple criteria. Crop Sci. 13: 630–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Dulaimi RI, Ismail NB, Ibrahim MH. 2012. The effect of industrial wastewater in seed growth rate: a review. Int. J. Sci. Res. Pub. 2: 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Ale R, Jha PK, Belbase N. 2008. Effect of distillery effluent on some agricultural crops, a case of environmental injustice to local farmers in Khajura VDC, Banke. Scientific World 6: 68–75

    Google Scholar 

  • American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation. 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, pp 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Arora M, Kiran B, Rani S, Rani A, Kaur B, Mittal N. 2008. Heavy metal accumulation in vegetables irrigated with water from different sources. Food Chemist. 111: 811–815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banerji D, Laloraya MM. 1967. Chlorophyll formation in isolated pumpkin cotyledons in the presence of kinetin and chloramphenicol. Plant Cell Physiol. 8: 263–268

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chou CH, Lin HJ. 1976. Auto intoxification mechanisums of Oryza sativa I. Phtotoxic effects of decomposing rice residues in soil. J. Chem. Ecol. 2: 353–367

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chung BY, Song CH, Park BJ, Cho JY. 2011. Heavy metals in brown rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soil after long-term irrigation of wastewater discharged from domestic sewage treatment plants. Pedosphere 21: 621–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cizkova R. 1990. Acidification stress of root environment as related to endogenous cytokinins and gibberellins in oak seedlings. Biol. Plantarum 32: 97–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coombs J, Hall DO, Long S, Scurlock J. 1985. Techniques in bioproductivity and photosynthesis. Pergamon Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Dash AK. 2012. Impact of domestic waste water on seed germination and physiological parameters of rice and wheat. Int. J. Res. Rev. Appl. Sci. 12: 280–286

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Leo P, Sacher JA. 1970. Senescence: Association of synthesis of acid phosphatase with banana ripening. Plant Physiol. 46: 208–211

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhanam S. 2009. Effect of dairy effluent on seed germination, seedling growth and biochemical parameter in Paddy. Bot. Res. Int. 2: 61–63

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Nahhal Y, Yousef A, Jamal S. 2013. Bioremediation of acetochlor in soil and water systems by Cyanobacterial Mat. Int. J. Geosci. 4: 880–890

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flinn AM, Smith DL. 1967. The localization of enzymes in cotyledons of Pisum arvense L. during germination. Planta 75: 10–22

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gadallah MAA. 1995. Phytotoxic effects of industrial and sewage wastewaters on growth, chlorophyll content, transpiration rate and relative water content of potted sunflower plants. Water Air Soil Poll. 89: 33–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garg VK Kaushik P. 2008. Influence of textile mill waste water irrigation on the growth of sorghum cultivars. Appl. Ecol. Environ. Res. 6: 1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garg VK, Priya K. 2006. Influence of short-term irrigation of textile mill wastewater on the growth of chickpea cultivars. Chem. Ecol. 22: 193–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International Seed Testing Association. 1999. Handbook of Vigour Test Methods 3rd edition International Seed Testing Association Zurich Switzerland Supplement to Seed Sci. & Technol. V. 27

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin AU. 1978. Halophyte seed germination. Bot. Rev. 44: 233–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaliyamoorthy J, Sathees Kannan TM, Nagarajan M. 2013. Effect of raw and biologically treated municipal waste water on growth of paddy (Oryza sativa L.). Int. J. Environ. Bioenergy, 7: 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan IU, Khan MJ, Khan NU, Khan MJ, Rahman HU, Kalim K. 2012. Wastewater impact on physiology, biomass and yield of canola (Brassica napus L.). Pak. J. Bot. 44: 781–785

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MG, Danle Gl, Konji M, Thomas A, Eyasu SS, Awoke G. 2011. Impact of textile waste water on seed germination and some physiological parameters in pea (Pisum sativum L.), Lentil (Lens esculentum L.) and gram (Cicer arietinum L.). Asian J. Plant Sci. 10: 269–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan SS, Sheikh KH. 1976. Effects of different level of salinity on seed germination and growth of Capsicum annam. Biologia 22: 15–25

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Page-Degivery MT, Boillot A, Loques F, Bulard C. 1987. An analysis of the role of abscisic acid on the differential expansion and chlorophyll synthesis of the two cotyledons of dormant apple embryo in culture. Physiol. Plant. 69: 87–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu D, Wang Y, Zang X, Si Q. 2002. Effect of sewage irrigation on wheat growth and its activating oxygen metabolism. J. Appl. Ecol. 13: 1319–1322

    Google Scholar 

  • Manunatha N. 2008. Effect of industrial effluents on seed quality attributes of cereal crops. Master Thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad: 1–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Medhi UJ, Talukdar AK, Deka S. 2011. Impact of paper mill effluent on growth and development of certain agricultural crops. J. Environ. Biol./Academy of Environ Biol. 32: 185

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mittelheuser GJ, Van Steveninck REM. 1971. The ultrastructure of wheat leaves. I-Changesdue to natural senescence and the effect of kinetin and ABA on detached leaves incubated in dark. Protoplasma 73: 239–252

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mojiri A, Aziz HA. 2011. Effects of municipal wastewater on accumulation of heavy metals in soil and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with two irrigation methods. Roman. Agric. Res. 28: 217–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Murkumar CV, Chavan PD. 1987. Influence of water pollution on germination of gram (Cicer aeritinum L.) In Current Pollution Research in India, In PK Triveni, PK Goel, eds, Environment Publications, Karad, pp 233–238

  • Nawaz S, Ali SM, Yasmin A. 2006. Effect of Industrial effluents on seed germination and early growth of Cicer arientum. J. Biosci. 6: 49–54

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padhan A, Sahu SK. 2011. Effect of rice mill waste water on population, biomass, rate of reproduction and secondary production of Drawida willsi (oligochaeta) in rice field agroecosystem. International Journal of Research & Reviews in Applied Sciences, 6(2): 138–146

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paliwal K, Karuniachamy KSTK, Ananthavalli M. 1998. Effect of sewage water irrigation on growth performance biomass and nutrient accumulation in Hardwickia binata under nursery conditions. Biores. Technol. 66: 105–111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pathrol M, Bafna A. 2013. Effect of sewage on growth parameters and chlorophyll content of Trigonella foenumgraecum (Methi). Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. 2: 5–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Porra RJ, Thompson WA, Kriedemann PE. 1989. Determination of accurate extinction coefficients and simultaneous equations for assaying chlorophylls a and b extracted with four different solvents: verification of the concentration of chlorophyll standards by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 975: 384–394

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajkishore S, Vignesh N. 2012. Distillery spentwash in the context of crop production A Review. The Biascan 7: 369–375

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramana S, Biswas AK, Singh AB. 2002. Effect of distillery effluents on some physiological aspects in maize. Biores. Technol. 84: 295–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rehman A, Bhatti HN, Rehman Athar Hur. 2009. Textile effluents affected seed germination and early growth of some winter vegetable crops: a case study. Water Air Soil Poll. 198: 155–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriquez MT, Gonzalez ME Linares JM. 1987. Degradation of chlorophyll and chlorophyllase in senescing barley leaves, J. Plant Physiol. 129: 369–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabater B, Rodriquez MI. 1978. Control of chlorophyll degradation in detached leaves ofbarley and oat through effect of Kinetin on chlorphyllase levels, Physiol. Plant. 43: 274–276

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saravanamoorthy MD, Kumari BDR. 2007. Effect of textile waste water on morphophysiology and yield on two varieties of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). J. Agric. Technol. 3: 335–343

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS. 2011. The SAS System for Windows, version 9.2, SAS Institute Inc., Cary NC, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena RM, Kewa PF Yadav RS, Bhatnagar AK. 1986. Impact of tannery effluent on some pulse crops. Ind. J. Environ. Health 28: 345–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RP, Agrawal M, 2008. Potential benefits and risks of land application of sewage sludge. Waste Manage. 28: 347–358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh G, Bhati M. 2003. Growth, biomass production and nutrient composition of eucalyptus seedlings irrigated with municipal effluent in loamy soil of Indian desert. J. Plant Nutr. 26: 2469–2488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh PK, Deshbhratar PB, Ramteke DS. 2012. Effects of sewage wastewater irrigation on soil properties, crop yield and environment. Agric. Water Manage. 103: 100–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh PK, Sharma KP, Kumar S, Sharma S. 2007. Assessment of environmental contamination potential of distillery effluent using plant and animal bioassays. Nat. Environ. Poll. Technol. 6: 63–74

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varadarajan K. 1992. Effect of sewage pollution on the physico-chemical properties of soil and water and its impact on the biological systems. Ph.D. Thesis, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf B. 1982. A comprehensive system of leaf analysis and its use for diagnosing crop nutrientnstatus. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 13: 1035–1059

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yousaf I, Ali SM, Yasmin A. 2010. Germination and early growth response of Glycine max varieties in textile and paper industry effluents. Pak. J. Bot. 42: 3857–3863

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

    Umaru Mohamed Gassama, Adam Bin Puteh & Mohamed Ridzwan Abd-Halim

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of environmental studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

    Bashiru Kargbo

Authors
  1. Umaru Mohamed Gassama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adam Bin Puteh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohamed Ridzwan Abd-Halim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bashiru Kargbo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Umaru Mohamed Gassama.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gassama, U.M., Puteh, A.B., Abd-Halim, M.R. et al. Influence of municipal wastewater on rice seed germination, seedling performance, nutrient uptake, and chlorophyll content. J. Crop Sci. Biotechnol. 18, 9–19 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12892-014-0091-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12892-014-0091-4

Keywords

search

Navigation