ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 38, 248-255 (1985)

Effect of Electroplating Factory Effluent on the Germination

and Growth of Hyacinth Bean and Mustard
MOHAMMADAJMAL ANDAHSANULLAHKHAN
Environmental Research Laboratory, Chemistry Section, Z.H. College of Engineering and
Technology. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202001, India
Received August 15, 1983

The effect of electroplating factory effluent in different concentrations (viz., 0.1, 0.2, 0.4,
0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0%) on the germination and growth of hyacinth beans
(Dokchos lablab) and mustard seeds (Erussicu compestris) was studied. The germination
of seeds was delayed with the increase of effluent concentration and the germination of
mustard seeds was totally inhibited at 1.5% effluent concentration while hyacinth bean seeds
tolerated the effluent up to 2.5% concentration. The metal content in the hyacinth bean
plants increased with increasing effluent concentration but after 1.0% effluent concentra-
tion, the concentration of all the metals (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Zn, Fe) decreased in the
plants except Cr, which increased throughout. Percentage germination, fresh weight, dry
weight, root length, and shoot length of the plants were also analyzed. Cd, Ni, Co, Mn,
and Pb were not detectable in the hyacinth bean plants. o 1985 Academic press, IX.

INTRODUCTION
Effluents from industries are normally considered the main industrial pollutants
containing organic and inorganic compounds, acids, alkalis, suspended solids,
and other materials. The disposal of industrial wastes is often conducted without
critical appraisal of the losses incurred. Usually no consideration is taken with
regard to the deleterious environmental impact upon the receiving water body.
There are numerous sources of industrial effluents leading to heavy metal en-
richment of the aquatic environment. The most important are the electroplating
industries, which are the major contributors of chromium and nickel along with
copper, zinc and cadmium. The role of different ions such as Cl-, SO:-, PO:-,
Ca*+, Mg2’, K+, Na+, Cu*+, and other heavy metals is well known and their
higher concentrations are supposed to induce morphological and physiological
disorders in plants (Greenway, 1965; Marre et al., 1958; Ungar, 1962; Agarwala
et al., 1961; Varga and Szoldos, 1963; Blumenthal-Goldschmidt and Poljakoff-
Mayber, 1968; and Banerji and Kumar, 1979). Ni has already been found growth
inhibitory in higher doses and it enhanced germination at lower concentrations
(Singh, 1981), whereas some metals in traces are necessary for the plant growth
and development, The disease based on copper deficiency is known for plants
(Fraser, 1961; Mackenthum and Ingram, 1967; Bennet, 1971). Behera and Misra
(1982) have reported adverse effects of molasses distillery effluent on the devel-
opment and growth of rice seedlings. Ajmal and Khan (1983, 1984) have also studied
the effects of sugar factory and brewery effluents in different concentrations on
the physicochemical properties of soil and growth of kidney beans, millet, and
248
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Copyright 0 I985 by Academic Press, Inc.
All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
 SEED GERMINATION IN WASTEWATER 249

pea crops and found that sugar factory effluent diluted to 25% and brewery
effluent diluted to 50% are best for crops and also fulfill their manure require-
ments. Recently, Ajmal er al (1984) also studied the effects of dairy processing
factory waste in different concentrations on soil and crop plants.
The present work has been conducted in order to investigate the effects of the
effluent of Morris Bajaj Electroplating Factory (MBEF). Aligarh, India, on the
germination and growth of hyacinth beans and mustard seeds.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
f$@llrent ana/~~.ris. The effluent of the Morris Bajaj Electroplating Factory, sit-
uated in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, India, was collected from the outlet of
the factory and then it was analyzed for color, turbidity, pH, total solids, dissolved
solids, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, Cl-, SO%-, CN-. PO:-, etc., by
HACH model of DR-ELI4 spectrophotometer based upon the standard methods
(American Public Health Association, 1975). The effluent was analyzed further
for heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, Co, Mn. Zn, Ni, Pb. Fe, and Cr using a PYE
UNICHEM SP 2900 model atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Parker, 1972).
Plant Materials. The seeds of hyacinth beans (Dolichos lablab) and mustard
(Brassica compestris) were soaked in distilled water and corresponding effluent
concentrations for 6 hr after surface sterilization with alcohol; twenty five seeds
were kept in each petri dish at uniform distances on presterilized filter papers.
They were then treated with distilled water (control) and varying concentrations
of the effluent (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5. 3.0, 4.0%) to keep the
seeds wet. Each set was replicated three times. The number of seeds germinated
in each petri dish at 12-hr intervals was counted and the total percentage of
germination was noted after 120 hr of treatment. For the measurement of seedling
growth, three seedlings from each petri dish were selected at random for each
observation on the 15th day of the treatment.
Geminatiorz. As used here, “germination“ refers to the initial appearance of
the radicle by visual observation. The number of seeds germinated in a fixed time
was expressed as percentage germination.
Fresh and dry >t*eights. Three seedlings were surface dried with blotting paper
and weighed in a closed vessel for fresh weight while for dry weight, three seed-
lings from each treatment were dried at 60°C for 48 hr to constant weight.
Ashing. Half a gram of the ground plant tissue was ashed in a muffle furnace
at 500°C for 2 hr. After cooling, 6 ml of acid mixture (1 ml cont. H,SO,:5 ml
cont. HNO,:2 ml 60% HCIO,) and 20 ml of distilled water were used. After
shaking well, the mixture was kept for 24 hr. Then it was filtered through
Whatman No. 1 filter paper. This filtrate was used for the estimation of heavy
metals by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Parker, 1972) and Ca, Mg, Na.
and K by flame photometer (Yoshida et al., 1976).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The physicochemical properties, including the heavy metal concentrations of
the effluent of MBEF, are given in Table 1. The effluent was deficient of dissolved
oxygen, highly acidic (pH 0.93) in character. contained large amounts of solids.
250 AJMAL AND KHAN

TABLE 1
PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIESOF MORRIS BAJAJ ELECTROPLATINGFACTORY EFFLUENT
Properties Effluent Value
Color Dark brown
Total solids 20,267
Suspended solids 1,285
Dissolved solids 17,962
Volatile solids 1,020
Turbidity 1,500 FTU
PH 0.93
Dissolved oxygen Nil
Ammonia-N Nil
Nitrate-N 2500
Nitrite-N Nil
Chloride 500
Sulfate 6000
Total acidity 980
Total phosphorus 498
CN- Positive
cu 382.50
Pb 168.75
Cd ND
Zn 95.00
Fe 187.50
Mn ND
Ni 578.12
co 12.50
Cr 10,000.50

Note. All parameters except color, pH, turbidity, and CN- are given in mg/l-I. ND denotes not
detectable = Nil.

nitrate-N, chloride, sulfate, and hexavalent chromium. The heavy metals, such
as Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni, and Co, were also present in appreciable amounts, while
NH,-N, NO,-N, and Mn could not be detected. A positive test for CN- was
observed.
The concentrations of different heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, Cd,
Ni, and Cr) and ions (Na+, K+, Ca*+, Mg*+, PO:-, NO;) taken up by the
hyacinth bean seedlings during their growth as a result of the effluent treatment
are given in Tables 2 and 3. The concentrations of chromium and Na+ in the plant
tissue increased constantly with increases in the effluent concentration and were
found highest in the seeds treated with 4.0% effluent. The other metals (viz., Cu,
Zn, Fe) and ions (i.e., PO:-, K+, and NO;) showed a different trend in which
first their concentrations increased with increasing effluent concentration but at
higher concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.6 and upward), the concentrations of these ions
decreased. The metals Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, and Co could not be detected in these
plants, though all of them except Cd and Mn were present in the effluent in
appreciable concentrations.
It has been found that the germination of hyacinth bean and mustard seeds was
inhibited by higher concentrations of effluent (Fig. la). The germination of hy-
 SEED GERMINATION IN WASTEWATER 31
TABLE 2
EFFECT OF MBEF EI:FI,IJENT ON THE HEAVY METAL CONTENT ot HYACINTH BRAN SEEOIUNGS
-
Metal content 1(~g/g dry wt)
MBEF effluent
(%) CU Zn Fe Cl

Control (distilled water) 17 20 212 I0

0.1 332 187 46X 270
0.2 540 135 II25 900
0.4 560 127 II25 I260
0.6 630 121 900 I305
0.x 270 x7 YOO I530
1.0 150 86 675 lS3(l
I.5 98 x0 620 7025
2.0 67 77 620 1565
2.5 5x 64 413 3x70
3.0 47 53 2x0 6630
4.0 36 9 ‘62 8370

N&c. Pb. Cd. Mn. Ni, and Co were also determined but were no{ pre\ent within the limit\ 01
detection.

acinth bean was completely stopped by 2.5% of the effluent and the mustard
seeds did not germinate at all even at 1.5% of the effluent. The root lengths and
shoot lengths were also retarded by the increasing effluent concentrations (Figs.
lb and c). The fresh and dry weights of hyacinth bean seedlings were found to
increase up to 0.2% effluent whereas they decreased by further increase in the
effluent concentration (Figs. Id and e). The best growth of hyacinth bean was
observed in the petri dish treated with 0.1% of the effluent, but mustard did not
tolerate even this concentration of the effluent (Fig. 2).
The above observations, therefore, indicate the deleterious effects of MBEF
effluent at different concentrations on the germination as well as on the growth

TABLE 3
SOIXUM. POTASSIUM, CALCIUM. MAGNESIUM. PHOSPHATE ANLI Nl-rKArE-N CONTENTS OF 15-D.~y-01 II
HYACINTH BUN SEEULINGS GROWN IN DIFFERENT CoNC~N~rKArIWs OF MBEF EFFI.I.L\I
-
Concentration (mmoleig dry wt I
MBEF effluent
(%‘I Na K Ca Mg PO,-P NO,-N

Control (distilled water) 0.0640 1.262 I.112 0.06X 0.133 0.02Y

0.1 0.0770 1.223 1.068 0.065 0.149 0.034
0.2 0.0870 I.079 I.027 0.060 0. I27 0.03 I
0.4 0.0900 0.915 0.992 0.050 0.091 0.029
0.6 0.0950 0.708 0.827 0.037 0.077 0.03Y
0.8 0.0960 0.577 0.608 0.028 0.065 0.034
I.0 0.1040 0.523 0.451 0.037 0.054 0.031
I.5 0.1240 0.407 0.45 I 0.03 0.046 O.OlY
2.0 0.1280 0.362 0.391 0.022 0.045 0.017
2.5 0.1300 0.269 0.361 0.017 0.045 0.015
3.0 0.1420 0.251 0.330 0.017 0.036 0.01
4.0 0.1440 0.269 0.301 0.018 0.024 0.013
252 AJMAL AND KHAN

D\” 100
5 90
zj 80
g 70
i=
Q 60
-I
; 50
= 40
g 30
-1 20
0’
& IO

0.25 Mb075 I.0 I.25130 I.75 2.0 2.25 2-50 0.25 050075 I-O I.25 I.50 175 20 2.25 2.50
EFFLUENT PERCENT EFFLUENT PERCENT

” 30
0z 20
I
v) IO

O-25 050 075 I.0 1.251.50 I.75 2.0 2.25 2.50

EFFLUENT PERCENT

FIG. 1. (a) Percentage germination of hyacinth bean (1) and mustard (2). (b) Root length relative to
control for bean (I; control = 15.5 cm) and mustard (2; control = 16.5 cm). (c) Shoot length relative
to control for bean (1; control = 19.5 cm) and mustard (2: control = 6.5 cm). (d) Fresh weight of
plants vs percentage effluent. (e) Dry weight of plants vs percentage effluent.

of hyacinth bean and mustard seeds. It is clear from these observations that
hyacinth bean is more tolerant to the effluent than mustard. The hyacinth bean
seeds treated with 0.8% and higher concentrations of the effluent were badly
affected and at concentrations 3.0 and 4.0%, the seeds shrank instead of germi-
nating. The root and shoot growth was also affected by the effluent. Even the
0.1% MBEF effluent was sufficient to check the growth of mustard seedlings
completely. The reason may be attributed to the presence of high concentrations
of salts (Gauch and Wadleigh, 1944; Bhumla and Singh, 1965; Ehlig, 1964; Furr
and Ream, 1968; Greenway, 1965; Mandelli, 1969; Sarin, 1961; Millikan, 1947;
Hewitt, 1953).
The important factors which influence the uptake of various ions by plants are
the pH, the concentration and the type of ions present in the external medium.
 SEED GERMINATION IN WASTEWATER 253

360

; 320
3000~) ,’ 300
if
z 2800- z 28

2 2600- 2 260
2400-
“3 2200- 220
+ 2000- : 200
I-
$ 1800- 2 I80 i
240
1600- k 160-

5 1400- l40-
l-
2 1200- = 120-
IOOO- i IOO-
: aoo- 80-

z 600- 2 60-
D
400- 40-
200- 20-
P I
I I I I I I 1 I 9 I I I I I 1 9 I

0.25 0.5Ooj5 I.0 I.25 I.50 I.75 2.0 2.25 250 0.25 O-50075 I.0 1.25 I.50 I.75 2.0 2.25 2.50
PERCENT EFFLUENT PERCENT EFFLUENT

FIG. 1 -Continued.

Hoagland and Broyer (1942) found that uptake of salts might be depressed by an
acidic pH of the external medium. The pH of MBEF effluent was highly acidic
(Table 1). Our results agree with the results of Hoagland and Broyer (1942) that
the uptaken contents of Cu, Zn, Fe, and NO,-N first increased in the seedlings
grown in dilute effluent (pH comparatively high) and then decreased in the seed-
lings grown in concentrated effluent concentrations (pH relatively low).
The presence of some ions also affects the uptake of other ions by plants. Scott
(1943) observed that the sodium content of Chlorella cells and other higher plants
increased when they were grown on a potassium-deficient medium. In the present
studies a constant rise in sodium content of seedlings with increase in effluent
concentration (potassium deficient) also took place (Table 3).
We conclude from our studies that the concentrations of certain ions such as
Cu, Zn, Fe, and NO,-N first increased in the plants and then started decreasing
and were found to be lowest in the seeds treated with 3.0 and 4.0% effluent which
are in accordance with the results of Steward and Millar (1954) who found that
cesium adsorption was higher in the tissue culture of carrot cells of the fast
growing plants compared to the slow growing plants.
The inhibition of growth with increase in the effluent concentration might be
due to the fact that heavy metals present in the effluent bind with proteins (Jerome
and Ferguson, 1972) and affect the enzymes crucial for the germination and initial
stages of seedling growth (Agarwala er al., 1961).
254 AJMAL AND KHAN

FIG. 2. Growth of hyacinth bean and mustard seedlings on the 15th day of germination. (a) Hyacinth
bean; (b) mustard. 1-12 denote control, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0%
concentrations of the MBEF effluent.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
U.G.C., New Delhi is thanked for financial assistance to one of the authors (A.U.K.).

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