EFFECTS OF SPENT MOTOR OIL ON SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND GROWTH OF ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L

ABSTRACT A study was conducted at the Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, Delta state University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of spent motor oil on soil and growth of Arachis hypogaea. 0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0% (wlw) of the oil constituted treatments. The results showed that spent oil in soil has highly significant (P ≤ 0.05) effects of some soil physico-chemical properties including nitrogen, pH, carbon and heavy metals properties. The oil also significantly reduced (P≥ 0.05) percentage germination and delayed germination as well as the growth indices of Arachis hypogaea. The effects being oil dose dependant. This study has demonstrated that spent motor oil has significant effects or reducing some soil physico-chemical parameters, percentage germination and growth performance of Arachis hypogaea. The study has important ecological implications especially in the Niger Delta area