EFFECT OF POLLUTED WATER OF LYARI AND MALIR RIVERS ON SOME PLANT SPECIES

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out possible toxic effects on plants due to the use of polluted water for cultivation. The effects of polluted water from six locations viz. Lyari industrial, Lyari sewerage, Lyari mix, Malir sewerage, Malir industrial, Malir mix and tap water on 9 different test species viz. Zea mays L. (maize), Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower), Pisum sativum (pea), Phaseolus lunatus L. (lobia), Lens esculenta Moench (masoor), Cicer arietinum, (chana), Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), Leucaena leucocephala Lam. and Thespesia populnea( L.)Sol. ex were examined for the percentage of germination, rate of germination and radicle growth. Germination and growth were recorded on every alternate day. Lobia when treated with Lyari sewerage showed 100% germination. The rate of germination for lobia was 98% in Malir sewerage and Malir mix as compared to control which was 94%. It is shown that percentage of germination and rate of germination were stimulated by the chemicals of the water but the length of radicle of lobia was suppressed by waste water. It was also observed that the test species T. populnea and P. sativum were drastically affected by the treatment of Lyari industrial and Malir industrial waste water. Average rate of germination for L. leucocephala in Lyari treatment was 63% and 43% in case of Malir treatment. The average radicle elongations for Leucaena were 28mm and 7.2mm in polluted water of Lyari and Malir rivers respectively. This indicated that Lyari waste water was less toxic than Malir water for the growth of the plant species.