Distillery effluent as a liquid fertilizer: a win–win option for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

A promising approach to recycle the residual distillery waste as a potential liquid fertilizer has been discussed in this paper. Field studies were conducted on Brassica compestris to assess the potential of the diluted post- methanated distillery effluent. The results indicated that there was not much variation in pH, conductivity and nitrate of soil, whereas total dissolved solids, conductivity, nitrate and chemical oxygen demand of the well water increased slightly but well within the permissible limit. However, there was a significant increase in the plant biomass, diameter of the shoot and root, area of leaf, as well as number and length of pods and root hairs. The hydrophilic colloids of the seed increased significantly (p < .01) and the yield of mustard seeds was increased by 30% as compared to the conventional fertilizer. The carbohydrate, chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content of the leaf, stem and root were also analysed and its morpho- physiological significance is also presented in this paper.

Keywords:

• liquid fertilizer
• distillery effluent
• agriculture
• mustard
• nutrient

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the General Manager, United Spirits Pvt. Ltd, Hathidah, Bihar, India for providing the facilities to carry out the experiment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.