Abstract
Soil contamination through oil spillage accumulates in the soil and affect plant growth. The study was conducted to examine the effect of spilled engine oil on soil nutrients and germination of seed in the in the Central region of Ghana. Ten samples were collected randomly from selected mechanic and fitting sites in the Elmina municipality. A randomized complete block design using three test crops was used to evaluate soil quality indicators such as N, P, K and soil pH on the polluted soil using standard methods. Maize recorded 3.67, 18.5 and 3.7% germination in contaminated soils from Aponkyedasoro, Nippon and Afitafum, respectively. Cowpea and sorghum recorded no germination in these soils. The three crops showed higher germination rates in the control soils, with the highest being recorded in sorghum (72.2%), followed by cowpea (70.4%) with the least being recorded in maize (66.6%). The results showed that nitrogen (N) level in the experimental soil was very low (0.065-0.075%) as compared to the control (0.115%) in this study. However, polluted soil from Aponkyedasoro, Afitafum and Nippon recorded a higher level of phosphorus (60.84-31.58 µg/g) and potassium (0.52-0.58 µg/g) than control (P=20.97 µg/g; K=0.43 µg/g) despite having a low germination rate. Copper, zinc, sodium and iron concentration were higher in the engine oil-polluted soil. The study revealed that the concentration of heavy metals and spilled engine oil in the soil has a higher effect on plant development; hence, public awareness should be created of its detrimental effect on the ecosystem. Key words: Contamination, germination, heavy metals, soil fertility.
Highlights
Land and water are precious natural resources on which rely the sustainability of agriculture and civilization of mankind (Ghassemi et al, 1995; Asiamah et al, 2020a, b)
The three crops, showed higher germination rates in the control soils, with the highest being recorded in sorghum (72.2%), followed by cowpea 70.4%) with the least being recorded in maize (66.6%)
This study had revealed that the introduction of heavy metals and spilled engine oil into agricultural soil, adversely and severely inhibits agronomic growth and development of plants, affecting its germination rate, stem girth, height, chlorophyll content and leaves production
Summary
Land and water are precious natural resources on which rely the sustainability of agriculture and civilization of mankind (Ghassemi et al, 1995; Asiamah et al, 2020a, b). They have been subjected to maximum exploitation and severe degradation due to anthropogenic activities (Apori et al, 2018; Essien and John, 2010). Each source of contamination has its own damage to plants and animals and to human health, but those that add heavy metals and spilled engine oil to soil and water are of serious concern, due to their persistence in the environment and carcinogenicity to plants growth (Vwioko and Fashemi, 2005). Research has further concluded that water deficiency as well as insufficient aeration of the soil because of the displacement of air and water from the space between soil particles by oil retarded early germination and seedling growth coupled with chlorosis of leaves and dehydration of plant (Cutforth et al, 1986)
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