The performance of maize (Zea mays) in crude oil treatment was investigated at the University of Port Harcourt botanical garden. Germination and growth responses of Z. mays were examined using various crude oil pollution treatments. There was no significant difference in the germination and development of Z. mays subjected to oiling at 1-3% compared to those of the control (0%), while 4-5% oiling showed a significant difference at P=0.05. Percentage germination decreased with increase in concentration of crude oil equilibrated with water. Germination rate decreased significantly with increased time of pre-soaking in crude oil. Crude oil spilled soil immediately after planting, increased the length of lag phase preceding germination from 48 hours to 96 hours and decreased percentage germination from 100% in the control to 58% in crude oil contaminated soil. This study shows that crude oil pollution has adverse effects on germination and development of Z. mays.
Crude oil is a complex hydrogen whose introduction into the may be hazardous to aquatic and human life, and consequently a threat to natural resources. The severity of the impact of crude oil depends on a variety of factors, including characteristics of the oil itself, natural conditions, such as water temperature and weather, and the sensitivities of receiving or biota. Consequently, various types of biological resources such as mangrove seedlings have different sensitivities to oil spills. The long term persistence of oil in the environment may cause defoliation and possibly death. Recruitment of seedlings into the oiled area may also be affected. This study is designed to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of crude oil (Bonny Light) on the growth performance of mangrove seedlings in a laboratory condition; monitoring critical plant growth attributes such as stem height and diameter, leaf length, width and numbers of leaves (leaf production), senescence and seedlings survival, for sixteen weeks. The study revealed that the mangrove seedlings responded differently in growth attributes with varying treatment. Evidence of crude oil effects were remarkably demonstrated between control and acute (Wilcoxon sign –rank t-test (1.0) > P (0.29)0.05 and chronic (Wilcoxon sign – rank, t-test (1.0) > p (0.47)0.05. The mangrove critical growth responses by mangrove seedlings as a result of the treatments were further explained by the cluster and correspondence analyses.
Studies of total hydrocarbon concentrations (THC) and heavy metals was conducted at the Bonny /New Calabar River in order to determine the level of these contaminants (from municipal and industrial sources) on sediment and important biological organism in the environment in September 2000 for wet and January 2001 for dry seasons. The study area is within the eastern arm of the Niger Delta located between longitude 40 25" to 40 40" N and latitude 70 25" to 70 15" E. In the 3 ecological areas studied, the distribution of THC was found to be higher in dry season (411.53 ± 118.77 mg/l than wet (400 ± 375.50 mg/l). Similarly differences were found in the heavy metals distribution in the river system. The magnitude was in the decreasing order of Zn > Cu > Pb > V>Cd>Cr>Cd respectively. This pattern was consistent for all the ecological zones. Bioaccumulation studies also showed that the Tympanotonus fuscatus tissue had more THC and metal contaminants than the sediment. Although the heavy metal values obtained were less than the regulatory standards, the continued accumulation of the contaminants is a cause for concern. THC in both sediment and tissue are high enough to affect the quality of the organism for human consumption.
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