Impact assessment of heavy metals spiked wastewater irrigation on soil health in marigold (Tagetes patula L.)

A pot experiment was conducted to find out the impact assessment of heavymetals spiked wastewater irrigation on soil healthin marigold (Tagetes patula L., cv. Pusa Arpita) under irrigation with metals spiked wastewater at Water Technology Centre of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during Rabi season of 2020-21. Sevan treatments were takenas T-1: Sole Groundwater Irrigation without spiking of heavy metal, T-2: Sole Wastewater Irrigation without spiking of heavy metal, T-3: Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.005ppm), Cr (0.05ppm), Ni (0.1ppm) and Pb (2.5ppm), T-4:Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.01ppm), Cr (0.1ppm), Ni (0.2ppm) and Pb (5.0ppm), T-5: Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.1ppm), Cr (0.1ppm), Ni (2ppm) and Pb (10ppm) , T-6: Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.25ppm), Cr (2.5ppm),Ni (5ppm) and Pb (30ppm), T-7: Wastewater Irrigation spiked with Cd (0.5ppm), Cr (5.0ppm), Ni (10ppm) and Pb (50ppm). Results indicated that soil health in-terms of pH, organic carbon, phosphorous, potassium and micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) was significantly not changed where as significantly higher salinity (EC: 0.45 dS/m), nitrogen content (164.17 kg/ha) aswell as significantly higher concentration of Ni (0.76 mg/kg), Cr (1.66 mg/kg), Cd (0.18 mg/kg) and Pb (2.78 mg/kg) in irrigated soils were observed in the treatment T-7 where higher concentration of metals were spiked in wastewater. The present study may be concluded as the application of metals spiked wastewater irrigation may deteoriate the soil health by build-up of heavy metals under cultivation of marigold.