Response of Industrial Solid Wastes on Maize (Zea mays L.: cv. PHI 1899) Growth and on Soil Characteristics

Greenhouse pottrial experiment was conducted on maize (cv. Phi-1899) crop to find out the effects of sugar and yeast industry solid wastes viz. Sugar industry sludge, sulphitation pressmud and yeast industry sludge on germination and growth of maize. The post-harvest soil analysis was also conducted to deter­mine their effects on various soil chemical properties. Germination of maize was stimulated (from 50.0% to 73.3%) with the addition of sugar industry sludge, sulphitation pressmud and yeast industry sludge @ 8% in soil. All the treatments of sugar industry sludge (upto 8% application in soil) caused a statistically significant increase in plant growth. The dry weight of root and shoot at both the stages was found to increase up to 4% pressmud application then significantly decrease at 8% level of addition. The plant height and dry weight of shoot also increased significantly due to sludge application. The sludge and pm registered a significant increase in soil EC, organic carbon, available potassium, available phosphorus, total nitrogen and the C:N ratio of soil. It was concluded that sludge and pm of the sugar industry could be used as source of plant nutri­ents in an integrated nutrient management system, up to a level as high as 4% addition to the soil.