IJIRST - International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology | Volume 2 | Issue 12 | May 2016 ISSN (online): 2349-6010 All rights reserved by www.ijirst.org 228 Impact of Paper and Pulp Mill Effluent on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters of Indian Mustard (Brassica Juncea L.) Priyadarshini Pillai R.K. Institute of Management & Computer Science, Bangalore –560103, Karnataka, India An experiment was carried out to assess the impact of Paper and pulp mill effluent effluent on physiological and biochemical parameters of three varieties (Pusa Karishma (LES-39), Pusa Agrani (SEJ-2), Pusa Mahak (JD-6) of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The seed germination ,shoot and root length, dry matter production, total chlorophyll (Chl a & Chl b) and total protein content increased on application of Paper and pulp mill effluent effluent at 25 and 50% concentration but higher concentrations of effluent, i.e. 75 and 100%, an inhibitory effect was observed. Among the three varieties studied, LES-39 (Pusa Karishma) variety performed better (tolerant) and JD-6 (Pusa Mahak) variety was proved as susceptible under the effluent treatments. The order of tolerance was Pusa Karishma (LES-39) > Pusa Agrani (SEJ-2) > Pusa Mahak (JD-6). Keywords: Paper and pulp mill effluent, Brassica juncea, Physiological and biochemical parameters ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. INTRODUCTION Water is one of the most important requirements of all living beings for performing essential life functions. With the steep increase in human population and industrialization, the availability of potable water is shrinking all over the world including India and it is becoming scare, expensive and polluted. In recent years manufacturing processes being practiced in industries have resulted in production newer organic chemicals and heavy metals in their effluents. All the industries generate various types of wastes (solid, air & water) as a result of their manufacturing process. Improper modes of effluent discharge in the water bodies are polluted and they are carry deadly substances (Muthusamy & Jayabalan 2001). Paper pulp industry is one of the largest industries in our country consuming large amount of water. A large paper mill uses about 2 to 5 lakhs liters of water per day and discharge more than 1 to 4 lakh liters of effluent directly into nearby area or water bodies. The deadly polluted load contributed by Indian pulp and paper mill has been equivalent to the contribution of 7.1 million people. In most cases huge amount of diverse nature of effluent released from varied industries is disposed in open environment causing pollution of soil and water bodies (Kumar et al 2003). Pulp, paper and board mills are some of the major industries in our country. Paper is an essential means for industrial, cultural and educational development of country. Irrigation of crops with the industrial effluents may reduce the water scarcity problem. Paper mill effluents contain organic as well as inorganic matters, which may support the growth and productivity of mustard crop when irrigated with effluents. However, the specificity and availability of inorganic ingredients decide to measure of growth and yield of wheat plant to a great extent (Dutta & Boissys 1999). The growth and yield depends upon the biochemical contents present in the plant parts. Effect of different industrial effluents on various field crops has been studied by many researchers (Sexena et al 1986; Renu Rani et al 1990; Pramod Kumar & Ramesh Kumar 1990, 1991; Kannabiran & Pragasam 1993; Pandit et al 1996; Verma et al 2004; Vijaykumari 2005; Arumugam 2007; Bandela & Puniya 2009). Kaidr et al (1981) found that sugarcane exposed to bleaching waste, decreased chlorophylls but it increased when the waste was used for irrigation in Clerodendron. In a pot culture experiment conducted by Everett and Fairchild (1988), maximum chlorophyll content was observed in plants irrigated with polluted lake water. The present study has been carried out to assess the suitability of paper and pulp mill effluent for irrigation purpose. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS Treated effluents were collected in plastic cans from the effluent discharging point of Paper and pulp mill, Amlai, Distt Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh and was analyzed its physico-chemical characteristics using the method of APHA (1995). Seed samples of three varieties of Indian mustard i.e. Pusa Karishma (LES-39), Pusa Agrani (SEJ-2), Pusa Mahak (JD-6 were procured from the Agriculture Department, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Raw effluents are diluted with distilled water and various concentrations (10, 25, 50, 75 & 100%) were prepared for the experimental studies. Germination study was conducted on three varieties of Indian musatrd under different concentrations of (0, 10, 25, 50, 75 & 100%) effluent treatments. Selected uniform and healthy seeds were surface sterilized with 0.2% mercuric chloride for two minutes, rinsed thoroughly with tap water and finally with distilled water. The sterilized seeds were soaked in different concentrations of effluent for 24 hours and are allowed to germinate in 15 cm. Petridishes lined with filter paper followed an underlying layer of sterilized cotton. Distilled water used for the control set of seedlings. Each treatment in all the petridishes including control was replicated five times and was kept under diffused light at