Impact assessment of heavy metals spi ked wastewater irrigation on growth, keeping quality and productivity of Calendula (Calendula officinalis L.)

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted in the net house of the research farm area of the Water Technology Centre of ICAR-IARI New Delhi during the year 2021-22. Seven treatments T-1: Sole Groundwater Irrigation without spiking of heavy metals, T-2: Sole Wastewater Irrigation without spiking of heavy metals, T-3: Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.005ppm), Cr (0.05ppm), Ni (0.1ppm) and Pb (2.5ppm),T- 4: Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.01ppm), Cr (0.1ppm), Ni (0.2ppm) and Pb (5.0ppm), T-5:Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.1ppm), Cr (1ppm), Ni (2ppm) and Pb (10ppm), T-6:Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.25ppm), Cr (2.5ppm), Ni (5ppm) and Pb (30ppm),T-7: Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.5ppm), Cr (5.0ppm), Ni (10ppm) and Pb (50ppm) were taken under 3 replications in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The local selection variety of Calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) was used as the test crop. Standard methods were followed to record the necessary observations. Results indicated that vegetative growth parameters of calendula were significantly altered while keeping quality of calendula were not found deterioted under metals spiked wastewater. Calendula flower yield obtained was higher in the treatments under heavy metals spiked wastewater. However, long-term application of heavy metals rich wastewater in calendula needs to be monitored at different soil and climatic conditions.