M. Yaseen

Application of Heavy Metal Rich Tannery Sludge on Sustainable Growth, Yield and Metal Accumulation by Clarysage (Salvia sclarea L.)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effective utilization of tannery sludge for cultivation of clarysage (Salvia sclarea) at CIMAP research farm, Lucknow, India during the year 2012–2013. Six doses (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 tha−1) of processed tannery sludge were tested in randomised block design with four replications. Results revealed that maximum shoot, root, dry matter and oil yield were obtained with application of 80 tha−1of tannery sludge and these were 94, 113 and 61% higher respectively, over control. Accumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Fe, Pb) were relatively high in shoot portion of the plant than root. Among heavy metals, magnitude of chromium accumulation was higher than nickel, iron and lead in shoot as well as in root. Linalool, linalyl acetate and sclareol content in oil increased by 13,8 and 27% respectively over control, with tannery sludge application at 80 tha−1. Heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium and lead content reduced in postharvest soil when compared to initial status. Results indicated that clarysage (Salvia sclarea) can be grown in soil amended with 80 tha−1sludge and this can be a suitable accumulator of heavy metals for phytoremediation of metal polluted soils.

Sustainable production of pigeon pea and sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) by intercropping

Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentinaBenth. Ex Kurz.), a natural source of the alkaloid reserpine, is generally found growing under partial shade of deciduous forests in the tropics and subtropics. To promote its commercial cultivation under subtropical environment of the north Indian plains, a field trial was conducted during 2006–2009 to optimize the plant populations (row ratios) of pigeon pea and sarpagandha for higher productivity, land utilization efficiency and economic return in an intercropping system. Intercropping of two rows of sarpagandha with pigeon pea sown at a row distance of 90 cm proved highly beneficial in terms of total production (5.15 t ha−1 grain and 10.27 t ha−1 straw + stalk of pigeon pea and an additional dry root yield of 2.56 t ha−1 of sarpagandha) from a unit area and time. The highest land equivalent ratio, LER (2.21), area time equivalent ratio, ATER (1.76), monetary equivalent ratio, MER (2.0), land-use efficiency, LUE (198%) and net return (Rs. 273,810 ha−1) were obtained for the combination of pigeon pea and sarpagandha in 1:2 row ratio. Integration of two rows of sarpagandha as an intercrop with pigeon pea sown at 90 cm row distance is recommended for sustainable crop production.