Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria
The contamination of soil by used lubricating oil is rapidly increasing due to global increase in the usage of petroleum products. The effect of spent lubricating oil on the growth and yield response of cowpea Vignaunguiculata (L) Walp was investigated using potted plants in soil contaminated with different concentrations of spent lubricating oil. The 3kg of soil was mixed homogeneously with 50.0mL, 75.0mL and 100.0mL of spent lubricating oil and the control (0.0mL). The growth parameters shows that the application of spent lubricating oil had a significant reduction (p<0.05) on the plant height, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight and the harvest index of the cowpea seedlings studied. The reductions and morphological effects in the growth characteristics measured shows that there was an increase as the concentration level of the contaminant increases compared to the control. The concentrations of copper, cadmium, iron, lead and nickel in soil contaminated with spent lubricating oil increased with the volume of treatment. Heavy metal concentrations in the shoot and root of treated plants were higher than that of the control. This could be responsible for the retarded growth of the plant, chlorosis of the leaves coupled with dehydration of the plant indicating water deficiency.
Keywords:Chlorosis; Harvest index; Heavy metal; Spent Lubricating Oil; Vignaunguiculata.