Research Article Open Access

TOLERANCE THRESHOLD OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis) ON DIESEL POLLUTED SOIL

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) for use in the phytoremediation of Diesel oil contaminated soil.

Methodology: Planted seedlings of fluted pumpkin were subjected to varying concentrations of diesel oil (100 ml, 200 ml, 300 ml and 400 ml) and the control had no diesel oil. 5 kg of poultry manure was added to each of them to augment the process. The experiment incorporated a completely Randomized Design with three replicates. These treatments were applied to the soil before planting the Telfairia occidentalis seeds. The plants were allowed to grow for 10 weeks. The parameters studied include plant height leaf width leaf length and the number of leaves.

Results and discussion: Results showed that the 100 ml treatment gave the highest value of plant height (108 m) while the 400 ml treatment gave the lowest value of plant height (18.7 m), statistical analysis shows a significant difference (<0.05) in the plant height. The control maintained a lead over the polluted sample. It was observed that as the concentration of crude oil increased, there was a significant reduction in plant height (from 108.5 m to 18.7 m) and leaf width (from 13.33 m to 4.17 m). The total petroleum hydrocarbon content of baseline data (6786.54 mg/ kg at week 0) was significantly greater than the total petroleum hydrocarbon content values in the soil during the six-week growth period. The result also shows a significant reduction of diesel oil in the soil during the period of growth from 6786.54 mg/kg to 4942.33 mg/kg for week 0 to week 6 respectively.

Conclusion: The reduction in petroleum hydrocarbons indicates that Telfairia occidentalis could be used in remedying soils polluted with diesel oil as the plant is found suitable for the uptake of heavy metals.

UKAOMA A.A1*, IWU I. C2, AJURUCHI V.M1, NNODIM N.I1, NWAMBA I.M1, ORJI-KELECHI CL, ANYANWU C.O3

To read the full article Download Full Article | Visit Full Article