ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Marble Industry Effluents on Soil Quality, Growth and Productivity of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
 
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1
Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, 19200, Pakistan
 
2
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai street, Beijing 100875, China
 
3
Department of Microbiology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
 
4
Center of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, 19200, Pakistan
 
5
Centre for Management and Commerce, University of Swat, 19200, Pakistan
 
6
Department of Zoology, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mir’s 66111, Pakistan
 
 
Submission date: 2021-09-05
 
 
Final revision date: 2021-11-27
 
 
Acceptance date: 2021-12-07
 
 
Online publication date: 2022-05-02
 
 
Publication date: 2022-06-20
 
 
Corresponding author
Sana Ullah   

School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai street, Beijing 100875, 100875, Beijing, China
 
 
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(4):3263-3270
 
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ABSTRACT
Soil and water pollution adversely affect growth and productivity of agri-business oriented crops in Pakistan. There are many crops consumed in Pakistan such as Lycopesicon Esculentum which is a major staple used in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effect of marble effluents on soil pH, water holding capacity (WHC) of soil, seed germination, number of leaves, number of inflorescences, stem girth, root, and shoot length along with their dry biomasses. Interestingly, there was a linear rise in pH of soil with increase in effluents concentration. Likewise, seed germination and root length were also improved with higher concentration of industrial effluents. The study found out no inflorescence at 100% effluent concentration. In contrast, highest inflorescence (6) was recorded at 10% effluent concentration. The earlier ripening of tomatoes occured with the highest concentration of effluents. There were no drastic changes in terms of number of seeds and its germination, while the shoot length was reduced as compared to control group. Significant differences of WHC in soil was found, moreover the maximum WHC was found in 20% treatment. These empirical results indicate that marble industry effluents may degrade the growth and productivity of Lesculentum. The study contributes to a better understanding of marble effluents on growth and productivity of Lycopesicion Esculentum in target area of study to improve agribusiness productivity for tomato while improving envoironmental sustainability.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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