Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of spent engine oil on the growth parameters and chlorophyll content of Corchorus olitorius Linn

  • Published:
The Environmentalist Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of spent engine oil on the height, leaf number, leaf area, stem girth, chlorophyll, and moisture contents of Corchorus olitorius grown on 0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1.0%, 2.0%, and 3.0% (v/w oil/soil) oil-contaminated soil was investigated. The engine oil at all concentrations delayed the germination of C. olitorius by 2 days (compared to control) and there was a general significant reduction in all the growth parameters in plants grown on contaminated soil compared to control plants. The highest leaf area of 26.8 cm2 was found in the control plant and least was found in the 0.6% soil (0.11 cm2) after 3 weeks while no values were recorded on the 0.8–3.0% engine-oil-contaminated soil after 5 weeks of experiment. The highest chlorophyll content was also found in the control plant (11.5 mg/l). This showed that spent engine oil has an adverse effect on the growth of C. olitorius plant.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1 
Fig. 2 
Fig. 3 

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adenipekun CO, Kassim LQ (2006) Effects of spent engine oil on some growth parameters and moisture content of Celosia argentea L. Nigerian J Bot 19(2):318–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Anoliefo GS, Vwioko DE (1995) Effects of spent lubricant oil on the growth of Capsicum annum L. and Lycopersicon esculentum Miller. Environ Pollut 88(3):361–364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anoliefo GO, Isikhuemhen OS, Ohimain EI (2006) Sensitivity studies of the common bean (Vigna unguiculata) and maize (Zea mays) to different soil types from the crude oil drilling sites at Kutchalli, Nigeria. J Soils Sediments 6(1):30–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burkill HM (2000) The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. 960 pp

  • DeJong E (1980) The effect of a crude oil spill on cereals. Environ Pollut 22:187–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hipkins MF, Baker NR (1986) Photosynthesis energy transduction: a practical approach. IRL, Oxford, pp 9–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed Y, Muhammed I (1990) Plant response to air pollution. John Wiley and Sons Ltd., pp 195–221

  • Obidike DI (1985) Oil spill contingency planning. Proc. International seminar on petroleum industries and the Nigeria environment, 11–14 November 1985, pp 145–156

  • Odjegba VJ, Sadiq A (2002) Effect of spent engine oil on the growth parameters, chlorophyll, and protein level of Amaranthus hybridus L. The Environmentalist 2:23–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roswell MJ (1977) The effect of crude of spills on soils. In: Good JA (ed) The reclamation of agricultural soils after oil spills. Dept. of Soil Science, University of Alberta, Edmond, pp 1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith B, Stachowisk M, Volkenburgh, E (1989) Cellular processes limiting leaf growth in plants under hypoxic root stress. J Exp Bot 40:537–540

    Google Scholar 

  • Udo EJ, Fayemi AA (1975) The effect of oil pollution of soil an germination growth and nutrient uptake of corn. J Environ Qual 4:537–540

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Faculty of Science Road, Ibadan, Oyo, 234, Nigeria

    Clementina O. Adenipekun, Olusola J. Oyetunji & Luqman S. Kassim

Authors
  1. Clementina O. Adenipekun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olusola J. Oyetunji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Luqman S. Kassim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clementina O. Adenipekun.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adenipekun, C.O., Oyetunji, O.J. & Kassim, L.S. Effect of spent engine oil on the growth parameters and chlorophyll content of Corchorus olitorius Linn. Environmentalist 28, 446–450 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-008-9165-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-008-9165-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation