Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria to determine the effect of pharmaceutical effluent on some soil chemical properties and early growth rate of maize (Zea mays L) in an experiment laid out in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Five rates of the effluent- 0, 25,000, 50,000, 75,000 and 100,000 l/ha were used. Results of the effluent analysis revealed that it is rich in some plant nutrients and the effluent also had effect on some soil chemical properties as well as the growth of maize. The organic carbon, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and ECEC were raised whereas the exchangeable acidity and C/N ratio decreased.  There were no drastic changes in the soil texture class.  Also the nutrient uptake by the maize plant, the collar girth, leaf area were enhanced while the plant height as well as the number of leaves were depressed compared to control. The chlorophyll content of the maize plant however, was enhanced at low effluent concentration.

Key words: Pharmaceutical effluent, soil chemical properties, maize growth, chlorophyll content.