MORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) AND Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) TO ABATTOIR EFFLUENT

Abstract

Morphological Responses of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Pepper (Capsicum annum) to Abattoir Waste Treatment were investigated. This is aimed at determining the effect of abattoir effluents on some growth parameters and heavy metal contents of the selected vegetables. Effluents were collected early and transferred to black polythene bags to prevent algal growth. A screen house experiment was set up to house the pots. Soil samples were collected and transferred to the pots while representative samples were taken to the laboratory for analysis. Seeds of Solanum lycopersium and Capsicum annum were sown into perforated plastic pots (30 cm diameter and 33 cm depth) filled with 10 kg of topsoil. The seedlings were allowed to establish for 21 days before the commencement of effluent treatment. The following morphological growth parameters were determined; Plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf length, stem diameter, fresh weight, dry weight and leaf weight ratio. There was an increase in the number of leaves, plant height and stem diameter in both tomato and pepper varieties studied. This project concluded that abattoir effluent increases some growth parameters in Solanum lycopersicum with contrasting decrease in the plant height of Capsicum annum, under high concentrations which possibly suggest an adaptive mechanism developed by plant under stress. The mechanism of detoxification of plants growing in polluted areas should be explored.