Assessing the suitability of cement industry effluent for irrigating eight different genetic varieties of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.): A case study

Abstract

Using industrial effluent for edible crop irrigation poses a significant risk of contaminating the food chain with toxic metals. However, utilizing it for non-edible crop irrigation, particularly bioenergy plants, may be economically feasible and environmentally sustainable. This study was aimed to assess the effect of cement industry effluent (CIE) on early stages of plant development of eight different varieties of Ricinus communis. For this study, early growth parameters such as seed germination, seedling vigor index (SVI), relative seed germination (RSG), and effluent tolerance index (ETI) were measured up to 30 days after emergence of seedlings. The soil having R. communis seeds was irrigated with different dosage of CIE, i.e., 25 (T<inf>1</inf>), 50 (T<inf>2</inf>), 75 (T<inf>3</inf>), and 100% (T<inf>4</inf>). Tap water served as control (T<inf>0</inf>). There was an increase of 3.5% from T<inf>0</inf> to T<inf>2</inf> and a decrease of 23.3% from T<inf>0</inf> to T<inf>4</inf> in seed germination of MSC-55, and an increase of 20.74% from T<inf>0</inf> to T<inf>2</inf> and a decrease of 23.12% from T<inf>0</inf> to T<inf>4</inf> in germination of Western-6. SVI ranged between 739.18 (lowest) and 2703.51 (highest). Up to 50% concentration, the SVI increased; however, it decreased significantly at higher concentrations. The study concluded that R. communis has enough potential to be irrigated with CIE at 50%. Conclusively, the different varieties of R. communis based on vigor at T<inf>4</inf> were detected in the order of MSC-55 > Swati-1515 > Western-27 > Western VJ-66 > Western Sarpanch > Sai-33 > Western Mukhi > Western-6. MSC-55 emerged as a tolerant variety whereas; Western-6 came out as a sensitive variety. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.