Growth Tolerance of Grasses Grown on Waste Engine Oil Contaminated Soil

Abstract:

The growth tolerance of Digitaria horizontalis, Eluecine indica and Setaria barbata grass species grown on waste engine contaminated soil was investigated in this study. Waste engine oil was added to soil to obtain different concentrations on weight basis: 0 % (control), 2 %, 4 %, 7 % and 10 % v/w oil- in-soil. The mixing was gradually done to ensure thorough and even mixing. After the mixing, the soil was left under shade for a period of seven days without planting. At the end of the seventh day, the plant materials collected from the wild were transplanted into the buckets. The growth parameters measured at 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after planting were plant height, leaf number, lea area and shoot girth. The result obtained showed that the increased concentration of waste engine oil in the soil caused reduced growth of the three grass species studied as was evident in the growth parameters studied. In conclusion, the D. horizontalis, E. indica and S. barbata grass species studied responded differently to waste engine oil contaminated soil and their sensitivity were determined by the five different concentrations of waste engine oil used.