|
EVALUATION OF JATROPHA CURCAS FOR PHYTOREMEDIATION
Edema, N.E.
Department of Botany, Delta
State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka
drangeledema@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The use of Jatropha curcas
for phytoremediadiation of crude oil polluted soil was wvaluated.
Stumps of Jatropha species were exposed of soil treated with
Ughelli East crude oil for nineteen weeks. The treatment levels were
tap water/10kg of soil (control), 10ml crude oil/10kg of soil and 20ml
crude oil/10kg of soil. Five replicates of three stumps of the plants
species per bag were used. Heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Mn, and V) contents and
physical characteristics (THC,TOC, and EC) were found to reduce in the
soil after exposure of the plants to the crude oil. The results also
show reduction in N (at 10ml and 20ml), P and K (at 20ml) contents after
exposure. The number of buds and leaves, fresh and dry weight and
catalase activity (roots and leaves) were found to increase in
concentration after exposure. Catalase activity showed significant
difference at P<0.05 at 10ml treatment for roots and leaves
respectively. While at 20ml treatment there significant difference in
catalase activity at P<0.01 and P<0.01 for roots and leaves
respectively. The highest mean value of growth height was recorded for
10ml/10kg treatment level, while the 20ml treatment had the highest mean
value for the number of leaves. Generally, the results showed that
20ml/kg the plants had better growth and were able to absorb and
metabolized some of the elements and hydrocarbon in the crude oil. |
