SOIL POLLUTION EFFECTS ON THE GERMINATION, GROWTH, ROOT GROWTH AND BIOMASS OF Emilia praetermisa (Milne-Redh) Asteraceae WITH COW DUNG ENRICHMENT

Abstract

The aim of this study was soil pollution effects on the germination, growth, root growth and biomass of Emilia praetermisa with cow dung enrichment. Crude oil was varied in 1 %, 3 % and 5 % to the soil while the cow dung levels were constant to amount of soil needed. By 12 weeks, the plants were harvested. Initial heavy metal properties of soil, cow dung and crude oil were analyzed for heavy metal. Growth parameters data were collected, was subjected to descriptive statistics to obtain the means and standard deviations. Analysis of variance analysis was used to compare the difference in the heavy metal properties of soil, cow dung and Crude oil, means of growth data and laboratory analysis. The result showed that the heavy metal in soil, cow dung and crude oil varied significantly (P<0.05). Higher levels of crude oil contaminated soil inhibited the growth parameter of the plant generally. Also, the heavy metal levels in the soil and plant samples was low and mercury, non-existing. Lastly, low levels of heavy metals in the soil and in the plants, tissue indicates the phytoremediation potentials of E. praetermisa.