JAFE Vol. 4 (1): 87-100
The Effect of Crude Oil on the Germination and Growth Performance of Moringaoleifera Lam.
Emerhi, E. A. and David-Sarogoro, N.
ABSTRACT
In order to determine the effects of contaminating soil with varying levelsof crude oil on adaptability, germination and growth of Moringaoleifera, 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16ml of crude oil were thoroughly mixed with 1 kg each of top-soil soil in poly-pots in an experiment that was replicated thrice. Three seeds of Moringaoleifera were sown per pot, and monitored for 12 weeks. The results showed that crude oil in soil significantly affected the performance of M. oleifera seedlings, the effect being oil concentration-dependent.Germination commenced on the 4th day after sowing (DAS) and was concluded between 14th and 15th days, with germination percentages varying from 20.00% to 73.33%. The control group (0 ml/kg of soil) had the highest germination percentage of 73.33% in week 1.Plant heights at the 8th week after planting (WAP),were 2.12cm for the control group, and 1.25cm and 0.79cm for the 4 and 16ml/kg of soil groups respectively. Death of some seedlings was recorded at higher oil concentration levels of 12ml and 16ml/kg of soil, while the control group had the highest mean leaf number(6.57), andplants in soil contaminated at 16ml/kg had the lowest (3.47). The mean height (cm) of the seedlings in soils contaminated with8 and 16mlof oil per kg of soil were highly affected by the concentration of crude oil. The study established that crude oil in soil significantlyreduced performance of M. oleifera seedlings in terms of plant height, number of leaves and leaf girth. It was concluded that although Moringaoleifera seedlings tolerated low concentrations of crude oil, their performance wasseverely affected by higher levels of oil contamination in this study.
KEYWORDS: Moringaoleifera, crude oil, contamination, pollution, germination, growth performance