1Onwugbuta, G. C. and 2Orji, O. A.
1Department of Biochemistry/ Chemistry Technology, School of ScienceLaboratory Technology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt
2Department of Crop/Soil Science, Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt
Corresponding Author: Orji, O.A.
IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 12, Issue 1 Ver. I (January 2019), PP 10-16
Abstract:
This study reveals the effect of 300g of mild steel buried in different levels of crude oil( 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160ml ) polluted soils (3kg) on the growth response of two maize (ZeaMays L.) varieties. The plant height, leaf length, and leaf number were measured. There was a gradual increase in the growth parameters with age in soils with low levels (0, and 40ml) of treatment. The higher the treatment levels, the higher the corrosion of mild steel, and the higher the iron content in the soil. There was higher chlorosis and reduction in leaf size in the 160ml crude oil treatment in the white maize compared with the yellow maize. This could be as a result of the penetration of oil into the plant tissues and highly corroded and dissolved iron in the soil matrix. It was therefore, concluded that crude oil/ iron stress affected the growth of the maize plant varieties. However, the yellow maize variety showed higher degree of tolerance than the white maize variety in the three soils studied. It was also established that soils of the Coastal Plain Sands had higher resistance to metal corrosion and dissolution than those of the Sombriero Warri and Meander Belt Deposits