Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Health Sciences

Abstract

DOSE-RESPONSE STUDY OF PLANTS (GYCINE MAX L., VIGNA SUBTERANEA L. AND ZEA MAYS L.) TO DIESEL OIL POLLUTION

Ogbuehi HC, Ogbonanya CI,Ezeibekwe IO, Ukaoma AA

Field trial was carried out in 2010 Cropping Season to determine the growth and development of Bambaragroundnut, maize and soybean as influenced by diesel oil pollution in loamy sand soil at Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri. The experiment was a split-plot design based on Randomized Complete Block design and least significant difference was used in separating the means. The crop plants (Bambaragroundnut, maize and soybean) constituted the main plots and the diesel oil pollution levels (0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 litres) constituted subplots and each treatment was replicated five times. Results showed that diesel oil pollution at different levels (0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 litres) significantly affected the performance of Bambaragroundnut, maize and soybean. The result obtained from the current investigation indicates that the test crops exhibited dose-dependent response to the diesel oil polluted soils. Reduction in percentage germination, plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, due to effect of high dose (2.0 litres) diesel oil pollution were significantly different (P<0.05) compared to their control. However, Bambaragroundnut performed significantly better in terms of percentage germination in control treatments than maize and soybean, whereas higher diesel oil pollution affected germination severely in bambaragroundnut than in maize and soybean. It was observed that 2.0 litres reduced the plant height significantly compared to the control and other treatment levels. However, soybean performed well in plant height and leaf area in all treatments levels at early growth stages compared to maize and bambaragroundnut whereas at early maturity stage, maize plant performed significantly well. The study also indicated that soybean in all treatments levels recorded significantly higher leaf area index than bambaragroundnut and maize. However, maize recorded significantly higher yield at all the treatment levels than observed in soybean and bambaragroundnut. Hence, diesel oil pollution has potential for reducing growth and development of crops

Published Date: 2013-10-12;