Annals of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2287-688X Original Research Article *Corresponding Author: Dr. Anupama Chaudhary, Department of Botany, M.M. (P.G.) C. Modinagar, UP-201204, INDIA. Page| 373 Application of Distillery Effluent Irrigation to Agriculture Soil and Profiling of Biochemical Activity Anupama Chaudhary* 1 , A.K. Sharma 1 and Birbal Singh 2 1 Department of Botany, M.M. (P.G.) C. Modinagar, UP-201204 2 Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Regional Station, Palampur. HP- 176001 Received for publication: July 02, 2013; Accepted: August 28, 2013. Introduction Central Pollution Control Board has marked sugarcane distilleries as one of the 17 most polluting industries in India. With 319 alcohol producing distilleries, India holds second largest network of molasses based distilleries in Asia with an installed capacity (IC) producing 3.29 billion liter of alcohol (Subramanian et al., 2005). Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra as being two of most sugarcane–growing states retain highest IC with more than 40% of the total IC followed by Madhya Pradesh (14.2%) and Tamil Nadu (9.7%). It has been estimated that molasses based distilleries generate 8-15 lit of waste water for every liter of produced alcohol (Uppal, 2004). Modi distillery is located at Modinagar, a sugarcane produced area of western Uttar Pradesh. At present, distillery has acquired a capacity of 26 KLPD productions (UP Excise Dept. -4843KL). Modi distillery produces enormous amount of anaerobically treated effluent, which regularly discharged into small drainage streams leading to Kali East, a recipient river located at a 0.05 KM distance from distillery (UPPCB, 2010). Such discharged post-methylation effluent comprises substantial quantity of organic matter and inorganic nutrients and recognized as a rich source of minerals and ions (Joshi et al. 1996). Application of such anaerobically treated effluent may provide a source of major nutrients viz. K + , P + , Ca + , SO 4 2- , NO 3 2- , Cu 2+ , Mn and Zn; irrigation of which to agriculture soil is recognized to increase the crop yield of the crops (Pathak et al., 1999). Approach of distillery effluent to agriculture soil as irrigation source is a promising alternative towards its secure and sustainable disposal. Exploration of such approaches may reduce the requirement of fertilizers that may increase share in farmer’s savings. Although, advantages of distillery effluent on agricultural crop productivity are known, very less data is available on the effect of effluent application for irrigation of agriculture soil. Such practice of effluent in irrigation may enhance the hydraulic conductivity and reduce bulk density of the soil. Therefore, present study explores the scope of potential advantages or limitation of effluent irrigation to the agriculture soil. In the course of observation, effort has been made to evaluate the effect of varying Abstract: Anaerobically treated effluent produced from sugarcane-molasses based distillery is a rich source of organic compounds, complex minerals and nutrient ions. Disposal of treated distillery effluent to adjacent water bodies is a common practice, though its application to agriculture soil has received a substantial response in recent time. Modi distillery, located at Modinagar an area of western Uttar Pradesh in north India, being a major alcohol-processing unit with 26 KLPD production capacity discharges enormous effluent volume. In this report, application of distillery effluent released from Modi distillery was analyzed on agriculture soil. Physio-chemical analysis of distillery effluent exhibited higher levels of dissolved organic and inorganic entities. Application of distillery effluent was measured in time-bound concentration-dependent strategies. Field experiments were designed under factorial scheme using randomized pot method. Further analysis revealed significant increase in physical, intrinsic soil properties and a higher soil microbial population in effluent treated soil in comparison to the untreated control. Existence of oxidized solids and produced acids lowered effluent pH and increased COD and BOD levels resulted in soil toxicity. Towards the management of such polluted compounds, biochemical and enzymatic activities of Bacillus cereus (JN700160), Bacillus sp. MH-I6 and Pseudomonas grimontii strains those were derived from distillery effluent and identified earlier through molecular characterization, were analyzed. Conclusively, present study represented an account of physio-chemical properties of distillery effluent irrigated agriculture soil that further complimented with profiling of biochemical activity of effluent degrading bacteria towards the improvisation of ferti-irrigation strategies in contemporary agriculture practice. Keywords: Distillery Effluent, Physio-Chemical Analysis, Agriculture, Soil Profile, Irrigation.