Abstract:

In this study, the growth response of the two indigenous Nigerian plants; B. deflexa and P. scrobiculatum grown on waste engine oil contaminated soil were investigated. The experiment was laid out as a completely randomized design (CRD). 4 kg of air-dried soil was measured into 4 kg perforated plastic buckets. Waste engine oil was added 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 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, leaf area and shoot girth. It was observed that as the concentration of waste engine oil in the soil increased there was reduced growth of the two-grass species studied as was evident in the growth parameters studied. In conclusion, the two-grass species studied showed evidence of sensitivity to waste engine oil contaminated soil and their sensitivity were determined by the five different concentrations of waste engine oil used.