Abstract
Inoculation of bacteria increase the growth of maize by facilitating the nutrients uptake and improving the immunity of plants and ability against pathogens, harmful substances such as heavy metals and other diseases. Likewise, organic amendments also increase the growth of plants by providing ample amount of readily available nutrients and improving soil physical conditions and ameliorating heavy metals toxicity. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the interactive effect of bacteria and organic amendments on Cr uptake and growth of maize irrigated with tannery effluent. Biochar and processed animal manure were applied at the rate of 1% (w/w). The experiment was conducted as Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. During the experiment various growth, physiological and biochemical parameters were measured by using standard procedures. Combination of Bacillus sp. MN-54 and low pH animal manure increased the plant height by 72%, chlorophyll content by 56%, water use efficiency by 68%, electrolyte leakage decreased by 51%, transpiration rate increased by 45%, RWC 57%, stomatal conductance 62%, photosynthetic rate 57% whereas Cr decreased the shoot growth by 45% over their control treatment. Overall the bacterial species evaluated in this study along with biochar and animal manure imparted heavy metal tolerance to maize plants evidenced by improved growth and physiology.
Highlights
Many industries worldwide drain their wastewater into the sewerage system or directly into the freshwater bodies especially rivers, without required treatment (Zhang, Liu, & Wang, 2010)
Chromium toxicity had more pronounced impact on root length as compared to shoot length because plants treated with Bacillus sp
MN-54 and low pH animal manure had approximately 29 percent more shoot length and 48 percent more root length as compared to control, which was due to the toxicity by chromium immobility and effect on cellular division
Summary
Many industries worldwide drain their wastewater into the sewerage system or directly into the freshwater bodies especially rivers, without required treatment (Zhang, Liu, & Wang, 2010). Leather industry is the most polluting and designated “red category” due to high concentration of organic matter, suspended particles, dissolved particle, salts mainly sodium chloride and chromium sulphates being received by the water channels (Haydar & Aziz, 2009; Reddy & Behera, 2006; Syed et al, 2010). Chromium is toxic for plants as it causes hinderance of photosynthetic and respiratory pathways of the plant, leading to plant death (Shanker, Cervantes, Loza-Tavera, & Avudainayagam, 2005). Later on, it becomes part of the food chain if the plants are consumed by the animals or humans (Staniek, Kostrzewska-Poczekaj, Arndt, Szyfter, & Krejpcio, 2010)
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