Studies on Groundwater Pollution of Rural Areas Located Near Kali River and its Effect on Chlorophyll and Protein Content of Triticum aestivum

Abstract

Present research work was conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of groundwater and its effect on wheat crop plant. Samples were collected from different sites situated near the Kali River of Meerut region. The goal of the current study is to comprehend how Triticum aestivum biochemical components are affected by groundwater pollution. Various parameters such as Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), Dissolved oxygen (DO), Calcium, Chloride, Sodium and biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and protein content were observed in this study. Numerous variances were observed in the current analysis. The groundwater contamination severally affects crop plants when used for irrigation. Water samples of different sites showed the values of DO 0.65 to 0.5 mg/l, BOD 4.8 to 2.4 mg/l, COD 13.3 to 38.6 mg/l and chloride 83.89 to 137.07 mg/l, calcium 0.32 to 1.69 mg/l, sodium 108 to 248 mg/l, sulphate 0.03 to 0.40 mg/l and biochemical analysis of wheat crop showed the values of protein 1.64 to3.44 mg/gf.wt, chlorophyll a 0.16 to 0.37 mg/gf.wt, chlorophyll b 0.13 to 0.24 mg/gf.wt, total chlorophyll 0.41 to 0.55 mg/gf.wt. The study concluded that the groundwater around the Kali River in five separate places (villages) of Meerut district is not safe for irrigation and drinking purposes on the basis of most measures, however its suitability for irrigation is questioned on the basis of a few considerations