Impact of Paper Board Industry Effluent Irrigation to Agroforestry System on Changes in Soil Quality

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of paper board industry effluent irrigation on soil quality under agroforestry system. The agroforestry system was maintained at the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Paper Limited (TNPL) - Unit II located at Mondipatti Village, Manaparai Taluk, Trichy district, Tamil Nadu. The site is situated at the intersection of latitude 10º 41' N and longitude 78º 26" E. The soil analysis were carried out for various quality parameter as per standard procedure. The results reveals that application paper board industry effluent were significantly influenced the organic carbon, Available P, and K. Hydraulic conductivity of surface soils was ranged from 2.02 to 4.39 cm h-1 with the mean value of 3.27 cm h-1. Infiltration rate was ranged from 6.6 to 52.5 cm h-1 with the mean value of 23.0 cm h-1. Among the micronutrients status zinc was recorded below the critical level whereas cupper, iron and manganese were recorded above the critical level. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), Soil microbial population (Bacteria, Fungi and Actinomycetes) and enzyme activities (Urease and Phosphatase) were significantly higher when application with paper board industry effluents under agroforestry system. The activity of soil enzymes and MBC showed significant positive correlation with organic carbon, available water and pH. These findings reveal that paper board industry effluent act as an irrigation source and fertigation under agroforestry system.