Bioremediation of tannery effluent by using Pseudomonas fluorescens and Eichhornia crassipes and its effect on Wheat seed germination and plant growth

Abstract

Tannery industries discharge a large quantity of toxic substances like chromium, sodium sulphide, sodium carbonate, ammonium sulphate and chlorides in their effluent, which manifold soil pollution and affect on seed germination and plant growth. In this study, two investigational systems are attempted: i) tannery effluent was treated by aerobic bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens and aquatic macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes and ii) the impact of treated and untreated effluent and soil on seed germination and plant growth were studied. The physicochemical properties such as color, pH, COD, BOD, total solids, suspended solids, dissolved solids, and chromium concentration were found decreased in effluent that treated with bacterial strain for 72 h and Water hyacinth for 20 days. These treated effluent also significantly enhanced chlorophyll content, and biomass production over other of wheat plant. The results revealed that effluent treated by microbes and plant has no negative impact on the seed germination and plant growth. Thus, it can be effectively used for irrigation.

Keywords

• Tannery effluent
• Water hyacinth
• Bioremediation
• Pseudomonas
• Seed germination