Impact study on groundwater quality and physico-chemical properties of farm lands irrigated with post-methanated distillery effluent

Abstract

The study area is surrounded by distilleries discharging huge amount of post-methanated distillery effluent (PMDE). The distilleries effluents is used by farmers in the surrounding farmlands to supplement irrigation or nutrients in various crops without considering its impact on soil physico-chemical properties as well as the groundwater quality. Therefore, present work was undertaken during 2009 to study the impact of PMDE application as supplemental irrigation on quality of groundwater collected from two sources, ie tube well and hand pump and physico- chemical properties of the study area. The PMDE is being used in the farmland since 2006 therefore; noticeable changes in physico-chemical properties were observed. Chemical analysis of groundwater reveals that salinity, pH, bicarbonate and soluble cations increased due to PMDE application and increase was found more in tube well water as compared to hand pump water. pH increased by 5.06 to 6.19% while lead, cadmium, nitrate by 62.5 to 66.7, 14.3 to 18.8 and 200 to 250%, respectively. Physical properties of soil like infiltration rate, permeability and aggregate stability were found to deteriorate due PMDE application. Study indicates that continuous application of PMDE in unscientific manner may pose threat to sustainability of ecosystem.