Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake in <I>Azadirachta indica</I> Planted along Municipal Sewage Channel in Indian Arid Zone

Abstract

Field observations were recorded on the growth, soil properties and nutrient uptake of Azadirachta indica, planted along sewage channel. The data indicated that availability of soil water and nutrients affected the growth of the plants. The trees at 1.5 m distance were 620cm in height and 22.4cm in dbh as compared to the plants at 15 m distance where the plants were 460 cm tall and 10.0 cm in dbh at 68 months of age. The leaf water content as well as in soil water decreased with increasing distance. Concentration of all the nutrients viz. N, P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn were lower in stem as compared to leafsamples. Phosphorous and N increased with increasing distance and was due to reduction in total biomass. The concentrations of micro.nutrients viz. Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe decreased with increasing distance, though their concentration were low as compared to the reported values except Fe which was in normal concentration. Soil analytical data indicated that the availability of NO₃-N, NH₄-N, PO₄-P, Ca, Mg and K along with pH were higher in 0-10 cm layer as compared to 40-50 em layer, whereas the availability of Na, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe were higher in the 40.50cm layer. Soil nutrients also varied with distance with minimum at greater distance. Thus the results indicate that availability of moisture and nutrients which came through seepage from the sewage channel enhanced the growth and nutrient uptake in the plants and the plantation along the channel has not only utilize the excess nutrients and water but also useful in wastewater renovation.