Organic amendments influence mustard (Brassica juncea) growth in chromium contaminated soils

Chromium is considered a serious environmental pollutant owing to its wide industrial use. Contamination of soil and water by chromium is of recent concern. Keeping these points in view an attempt was made to assess the chromium toxicity in the environment, especially in soil and provides new comprehensions about chromium toxicity in plants. Two sequential pot experiments were conducted in net house of Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during 2015-16 and 2016-17 to evaluate the effect of organic amendments on growth parameters (viz. Germination, Chlorophyll content, Plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of branches per plant) of mustard in chromium contaminated soils. Five levels of chromium viz. 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 ppm with and without three organic amendments viz. Vermicompost @ 5 ton ha-1, Farm Yard Manure @ 10 ton ha-1 and Sewage Sludge @ 20 ton ha-1 were taken in alluvial soil of Research Farm of IAS, BHU. Result showed that growth parameters (germination percentage, chlorophyll content (SPAD), plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of branches per plant) significantly decreased as level of chromium increased. Result also revealed that application of organic amendments significantly increased these growth parameters as compare to their respective chromium treatment. Maximum and significantly higher increment in growth parameters was found by the application of vermicompost @ 5 ton ha-1 followed by farm yard manure @ 10 ton ha-1, followed by sewage sludge @ 20 ton ha-1.