STUDIES ON TOXICITY OF VISCOSE RAYON FACTORY EFFLUENTS .2. EFFECT ON SOIL

The effect of viscose rayon factory effluent on physicochemical and bi ological properties of various types of soil was investigated. The dat a revealed that flooding the soil with the effluent resulted in decrea sed soil pH, hygroscopic moisture, water holding capacity, loss on ign ition and organic carbon content of the soil whereas, EC %, nitrogen, phosphorous, chlorides, sulphates and metal ion contents were increase d. The effluent treated samples contained the organic pollutants, tann in, lignin, oils and grease. The effluent treatment decreased the micr obial population and microbial activity in the soil.