Abstract

The effect of spent oil pollution on the growth and performance of Zea mays at different stages of growth was investigated in this study. It involved addition of different quantities of spent oil to soils where Zea mays plants at different stages of growth were growing on. The plants showed differential response to quantities of spent oil added to the soils and the times of application. Plants exposed to spent oil pollution one week after germination had the highest level of growth inhibition and the highest chlorophyll content. The leaf area development of the plant was inhibited by the exposure of the plant to spent oil pollutionas observed seven weeks after germination. The application of spent oil to the soils three and five weeks, respectively after the germination of the seeds of Z. mays had similar effects on dry matter accumulation of the plant. Statistical differences occur on the growth and performance of the plants exposure to spent oil pollution at different stages of growth (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001). The results from this study showed that generally Z. maysmay suffer greater inhibition of growth and performed poorly when it is exposed to spent oil pollution at tender stage of growth.

Key words: Spent oil, time application, growth, performance, Zea mays