Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of crude oil pollution on the morphology, growth and heavy metal content of maize ( Zea mays L.) by analyzing selected physicochemical parameters and heavy metals in soil samples and plant parts using standard field experimental methods. Results from this study show that all the growth parameters of Zea mays planted in the polluted soil were adversely affected by crude oil pollution. The highest mean height for treatments 50 ml, 100 ml and 150 ml were 33.54 cm, 31.34 cm and 27.44 cm respectively while that of the control was 87.58 cm. The pH of the soil increased as the volume of the crude oil increased. Chlorophyll content of the Zea mays leaves reduced with increase in the volume of crude petroleum. Of the plant parts examined, root had the highest content of chromium (Cr) with 0.22 ppm (150 ml), nickel (Ni) with 0.46 ppm (150 ml), lead with 0.06 ppm (150 ml) and cadmium (Cd) with 0.02 ppm (150 ml) while the highest copper (Cu) value of 0.28 ppm (150 ml) was recorded in the leaves (150 ml). Heavy metals concentration significantly increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in volume of crude oil pollution. This study has shown that crude oil polluted soil brings about reduction in the growth, yield and leaf chlorophyll of maize plant. Coupled with increasing heavy metal concentration, this could lead to scarcity and safety concerns in maize consumption in areas impacted by crude oil pollution. Keywords: Crude oil, Pollution, Maize, Effects, Yield, Growth

Highlights

  • Crude oil is a naturally occurring complex mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon compounds and at high concentrations can be toxic to living organisms (Nelson-Smith, 1973; Anderson and Labelle, 2000)

  • The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effects of crude oil on the morphology, growth and heavy metal content of maize (Zea mays Linn.)

  • The growth parameters of Zea mays L. plants were adversely affected by the crude oil pollution

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Summary

Introduction

Crude oil is a naturally occurring complex mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon compounds and at high concentrations can be toxic to living organisms (Nelson-Smith, 1973; Anderson and Labelle, 2000). Anoliefo and Vwioko (1995) noted that oil spillage leads to a general increase in the heavy metal content of soils. Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important and most widely distributed cereal in the world after wheat and rice (Nafziger, 2006) It is used for three main purposes, as a staple food crop for human consumption, as feed for livestock and as raw material for many industrial uses, including biofuel production, starch, flour and alcohol production (Agoda et al, 2011; Oyewo, 2011). The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effects of crude oil on the morphology, growth and heavy metal content of maize (Zea mays Linn.)

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