Short-Term Effects of Poultry Amendments on Germination, Growth, and Biochemical Responses of Maize under Untreated Distillery Wastewater Irrigation
摘要
The reuse of agro-industrial wastewater for irrigation has the potential for both benefits and challenges due to its high nutrient load coupled with toxic constituents. The current study examines the effects of untreated distillery wastewater on a high-yielding maize variety (Zea mays L. var. Jammu Maize Composite-3) modified by soil amendments with poultry manure (SM) and poultry biochar (SB) at all three application rates (5, 10, and 15 g Kg−1 soil). Germination indices, growth attributes, and biochemical parameters were evaluated to assess the efficacy of the amendments in alleviating wastewater-induced stress. The untreated distillery wastewater without an amendment resulted in significant reductions in seed germination and seedling growth, along with increased phytotoxicity and oxidative damage. All of the amendments greatly improved the plant responses, with the poultry biochar (SB) being more effective than the poultry manure (SM). Notably, SB10 achieved the highest germination percentage, germination index, vigor index, and mean daily germination, alongside enhanced plant growth and improved biochemical resilience. Lower (5 g Kg−1) concentrations were less effective, while higher (15 g Kg−1) levels showed diminishing responses. Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis) showed that SB10 was clearly separated from the other treatments, indicating its overall better performance. Overall, poultry biochar at 10 g kg−1 soil was the most effective in reducing wastewater-induced stress. However, this does not suggest that untreated distillery wastewater is safe for direct agricultural use. Rather, the findings indicate that appropriate soil amendments can help reduce its negative effects under controlled conditions. Field-scale validation is recommended to confirm long-term feasibility and agronomic benefits.