With growing competition for water in different sectors, utilization
of effluent water in agriculture is imperative. Paper mill effluent could be
used in this sector as the effluents were found to be neutral, low saline and
contained Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, F-, B, Cl
$^-$
,
SO
$_4$
$^{2-}$
,
NO
$_3$
$^-$
,
CO
$_3$
$^{2-}$
and
HCO
$_3$
$^-$
ions at low to moderate
concentrations. Irrigation by Emami paper mill effluent at different dilutions
with fresh water had improved crops' yield attributes. No adverse impact on
crop nutrients' uptake or soil properties was noticed. These depict that >60
to ⩽80% dilutions of (Emami) paper mill effluent with fresh water is
optimal for proper growth of blackgram and maize, >20% for greengram and
⩽60% for rice and sunflower grown on acidic laterite soil in pots. Thus the
study reveals that paper mill effluent holds promise for use in irrigation if
diluted to levels within the acceptable limit of crops.
