Effect of spent engine oil (SEO) on germination and seedling growth of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L)
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Date
2012
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Journal of Science, Technology, Mathematics and Education (JOSTMED)
Abstract
The indiscriminate disposal of spent engine oil drain from engine after servicing has been found to affect plant growth. A potted experiment was developed at College of Education (Technical) Lafiagi, to investigate the minimum concentration of spent engine oil that could be inhibitory to groundnut growth. Plastic containers filled with sandy-loam soil were contaminated with various concentrations of spent engine oil (SEO) (0ml, 25ml, 50ml, 75ml and 100ml). Each treatment had three replicates arranged in complete randomized block design. Germination studies carried out showed that the number of seeds of groundnut that grew into seedling decreased with increasing level of the contaminant. Percentage germination was found to decrease from 100% in 0ml to 60% in 25ml and to 33 % in 100ml. Seedling growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and leaf area assessed for a period of one month were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced as the concentration level of the contaminant increased compared to control (0ml) except for 25ml of SEO which did not show significant shoot height difference. Polluted soil with 100ml of SEO was found to be phytotoxic as shown by significant marked reduction in all the aforementioned growth parameters. The results of this study suggest that spent engine oil at 25ml concentration could be considered inhibitory to groundnut growth. Also, higher concentration of this pollutant could become phytotoxic. Therefore, for crop safety and food security, there is need for adequate enlightenment on the indiscriminate disposal of spent engine oil.