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Biocompost has been identified as an alternative to chemical fertilizers that increased soil microbial population and soil enzyme activities in sustainable farming. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effect of three halophytic composts in combination with farmyard manure and phosphate solubilising bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) on soil microflora and enzyme activities. The results show that among nine treatments given, the application of Suaeda compost in combination with farmyard manure and phosphate solubilising bacteria (T 9 ) significantly increased the soil microflora such as bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes and soil enzyme activities such as dehydrogenases, alkaline phosphatase, cellulase and urease in soil cultivated with Arachis hypogaea.

The present study investigated the sources for remediation of heavy metals and salts from tannery effluent using salt marsh halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum. From the results observed, in tannery effluent treated soil from 1 kg dry weight of plant sample, Sesuvium portulacastrum accumulated 49.82 mg Cr, 22.10 mg Cd, 35.10 mg Cu and 70.10 mg Zn and from 1 g dry weight of the plant sample, 246.21 mg Na Cl. Cultivation of Sesuvium portulacastrum significantly reduced the EC, pH and SAR levels in tannery effluent and salt treated soil and correspondingly increased in plant sample after 125 days of cultivation. In conclusion, Sesuvium portulacastrum was an efficient in accumulating heavy metals such as Chromium, Cadmium, Copper and Zinc, sodium and chloride maximum through its leaves when compared to stem and root. The finding of these bioacccumulation studies indicates that Sesuvium portulacastrum could be used for phytoremediation of tannery effluent contaminated field.

The present study perceives that textile dye effluents of Erode, Pallipalayam, and Bhavani region have substantial volume of electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and heavy metals. The results point out that irrespective of the source, effluent properties exceeded permissible limits by the WHO/Food and Agriculture Organization/ Federal Environmental Protection Agency for irrigation. The textile industry consumes a mixture of chemicals and huge amount of water during the production process. About 200 L of water are used to produce 1 kg of textile. The textile effluent can cause several health infections such as hemorrhage, ulceration of skin, nausea, skin irritation, and dermatitis.

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Biofertilizers are the special formulation of specific beneficial microorganisms that promote the growth of plant crops by converting the unavailable form of nutrients into available form. Here, the effect of heavy metal stress on antioxidant enzymes were studied in Clitoria ternatea L. leaves. Clitoria ternatea L. plant was grown for 30 days and the heavy metal mercuric chloride was sprayed after 10 days from the date of planting. Effect of mercuric chloride was observed in treated plants. The selected plant Clitoria ternatea L. was grown under mercuric chloride treatment in a specified concentration 1 µg/10 ml. The control plant maintained without the treatment of mercuric chloride. Antioxidant effect of mercuric chloride was measured under controlled and treated conditions. The selected plant Clitoria ternatea L. was grown under mercuric chloride in treatment. Further it increases H 2 O 2 content and the antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) were observed in mercuric chloride treated plants when compared with control. Here mercuric chloride was accumulated more in matured leaves. The results are discussed with the literature.

As an alternative to chemical fertilizer, biocompost has been identified to increase the yield characteristics of Arachis hypogaea Linn. for sustainable agriculture. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effect of three different types of halophytic composts in combination with farmyard manure (FYM) and phosphate solubilising bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) on yield characteristics such as number of pods per plant, fresh pod weight, dry pod weight , pod yield, haulm yield, shelling percentage and hundred kernel weight. From the results it was is observed that among nine treatments given, the application of Suaeda compost in combination with FYM and phosphate solubilising bacteria (T 9) significantly increased the yield characteristics in Arachis hypogaea cultivated in coastal saline soil. The resulting halophytic compost improves the quality and fertility of the saline soil.