Assessment of chromium accumulation in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) irrigated with wastewater

The extent of wide variety of pollutants in surface as well as ground water has become a serious problem in all over the world, because of increase in population, rapid industrialization and long lasting water scarcities. Due to water crisis, the polluted water is being used for agricultural purpose and thus these mixed pollutants i.e., organic and inorganic enter the soil and become a part of food chain to adversely affect human health and environment. When vegetables like okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) are irrigated with untreated wastewater, heavy metals like chromium (Cr) present in that water become the part of plant biomass. Ultimately this results into impetrative health issues when such vegetables are consumed by humans. In the present study a pot experiment was conducted to assess the bioaccumulation of Cr in okra irrigated with sewage effluent. The experiment was proceeded in pots to estimate the uptake of chromium by applying sewage water. Three treatments include T1= control (tap water), T2= 1:1 (50% Cr containing wastewater, 50% water) and T3= 1:5 (75:25) were applied. Two harvests were taken, first after 6 weeks of germination and second after 10 weeks. The result showed that for the first harvest a significant reduction was observed in growth and yield parameters like plant height, number of leaves, leaf fresh weight, leaf surface area, number of fruits, fruit fresh weight, chlorophyll content, membrane stability index, leaf relative water content and Cr accumulation in fruit, however maximum chlorophyll content, number of leaves, plant height as well relative water content was observed in control. Same results were observed for second harvest. Data was analyzed statistically using CRD under two way factorial design and LSD test was applied for comparison.