Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in Alfisol (red sandy loam) at Balalpur Industrial Packaging Company Limited (BIPCO) model farm, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, to assess the impact of paper board mill sludge biocompost and treated paper board mill effluent irrigation on growth and yield of vegetable cowpea, (CO 2). Application of sludge biocompost by mixing sludge, fly ash, coir pith @ 2:1:1 ratio along with recommended level of NPK (20:20:60 kg NPK ha) under treated effluent irrigation produced the highest vegetable cowpea yield of 6500 kg ha¹ as against 5325 kg ha¹ in FYM+ 100% NPK. There were no adverse effect on soil physical and biochemical properties due to sludge biocompost application. The quality of the vegetable cowpea viz. protein and fibre content were not- affected due to sludge biocompost application along with effluent irrigation. The treated effluent which complics the state pollution control board norms can be used for raising vegetable cowpea along with sludge biocompost @ 6 t ha with out any adverse effect on soil and crop quality.

Keywords: Paper board sludge biocompost-treated effluent - vegetable cowpea.