The effect of diesel contaminated soil on seedling growth of Bambara groundnut, pigeon pea and African yam bean: Kalu, Daniel P.

ABSTRACT

 This study was carried out in the field to evaluate the morphological changes of Vigna subterranean, Cajanus cajan and Sphenostylis stenocarpa, grown in diesel contaminated soil at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Ahia State, Nigeria. The experiment was organized in Complete Randomized Design (CRD), replicated three times. The seedlings of Vigna subterranean, Cajanus cajan and Sphenostylis stenocarpa were grown in 0.00, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5 and 0.625 (% W/W) of diesel oil contaminated soil and monitored for 12 weeks after transplanting. The result showed that the different levels of diesel oil contaminated soil across the weeks on the leaf area, leaf length, number of leaves, plant height and biomass were all affected and specie dependent. Also according to the result there were significant reduction in the seedlings (leaf area, leaf length, number of leaves and plant height) grown in oil contaminated soil when compared to the uncontaminated soil. Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranean were tolerant than Cajanus cajan seedlings examined and therefore could be considered for phytoremediation practice.