ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF RICE SEEDLINGS

High concentration of effluent altered the normal pattern of rice seed germination. At 5, 10, 20 and 50% (vol/vol) effluent concentrations, the coleoptile emerged before the root primordia did. The greening of the coleoptile was delayed with the increase in the effluent concentration. Percentage of germination, viability, number of roots, shoot and root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of the rice seedlings showed an inverse relationship with the effluent concentration. The amount of cations and anions in shoot and root systems of control rice seedlings was the same, whereas in the effluent-treated rice seedlings a relatively high amount of K and Na and a low amount of chloride was found in roots compared to shoots. The amounts of P, Mg and Ca were the same in both root and shoot.