EFFECTS OF CRUDE OIL AS A SOIL CONTAMINANT ON SEEDLING GROWTH OF JATROPHA CURCAS L

ABSTRACT A study was conducted in 2010 to evaluate the effects of crude oil as a soil contaminant on the performance of Jatropha curcas seedlings in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Oil concentrations used were 0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0% w/w. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates and monitored for 10 weeks after transplanting. The results showed that contamination of soil with crude oil significantly reduced (P 0.05) the performance of Jatropha curcas seedlings as regards plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and collar diameter when compared with seedlings grown in the uncontaminated soils. The performance of the seedlings was oil concentration dependent. Other symptoms observed at the higher levels of oil treatments were yellowness of leaves, leaf fall/drop, chlorosis, growth retardation and stagnation as well as wilting. This study has shown that crude oil in soil has a highly significant effect of reducing the performance of J. curcas seedlings. The oil level most tolerated by the plant is 2.0% w/w and above this level, significant reductions were recorded. This study has great implications on the sustainability of this multipurpose species, which has been identified as a potential biofuel species

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

Global Climate Change: A Threat to Food Security and Environmental Conservation

Rapid socio-economic changes in some developing countries like India, China, etc., are influencing dramatically the fuel consumption pattern world over. An increase of 880 TWh of electricity consumption in transport in 2030 compared with the Reference Scenario, of which 90% occurs in PLDVs, results in about 250 Mt of additional CO2 emissions. The rise in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is 1.0 – 3.5°C (1PCC, 2007a). If emissions of greenhouse gases, and in particular CO2, continue unabated the enhanced greenhouse effect may alter the world’s climate system irreversibly. This review attempted to examine how climate change constitutes a threat to food security and environmental conservation. Climate change (CC) refers to changes in modern climate. It reflects abnormal variations to the expected climate within the earth’s atmosphere and subsequent effects on other parts of the earth. It is emphasized that CC poses a threat to food security as it impacts on natural systems and resources through erratic rainfall patterns, heightened temperature and susceptibility to pest and disease outbreaks hence decreasing crop yields and consequently increased hunger. CC negatively affects biodiversity conservation and management through exacerbated drought conditions, increased risk of wildfires leading to some extreme events like heat, waves, river and coastal flooding, landslides, storms, hurricanes and tornadoes which culminate in environmental degradation. For its effects to be reduced establishment of more forest plantations and maintenance of the existing natural and artificial forests should be encouraged. Saving biodiversity in the form of standing forests and interact lands can help prevent climate change and help communities and natural areas cope with a changing planet. At the same time, helping nature become more reification climate change through a combination of management restoration and protection strategies will help prepare places, plants, animals and people for climatic change successful adoption of living system can help ensure their ability to support the needs of people and better withstand future changes

Relevance of Algae as Biological Indicators of Pollution Management Studies

Algae are multicellular or unicellular organisms that photosynthesize but lack the typical features such as leaves, roots, flowers and stems evident in higher vascular plants. They constitute the grasses of the waters. Algae differ in colour and class and occur in all water bodies including lotic and lentic fresh, brackish or salt. An attempt has been made here to establish the fact that as primary producers in aquatic systems, they can be utilised as bio-indicators to ascertain and qualify the outcome of pollutants and assess the degree of contamination in the ecosystem with the ultimate objective of ensuring that local resources used in the water sector applying biodiversity friendly management measures within their day-to-day practices. Among the benefits of utilising algae as bioindicators are short life cycles and rapid reproduction, direct influences by physical and chemical environmental factors, a cost effective monitoring tool, and ease of sampling, less labour and less impact on other organisms. Besides, their role in removing different pollutants including heavy metals and other toxic substances from aquatic environments qualify them as candidates for bionindicators

Green Living: A Panacea for Secured Environment

An attempt has been made to establish that green living is a panacea for a secured environment. The paper noted that green environment also known as ecofriendly, nature friendly or nature green refers to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that help to reduce, minimize the harm upon the ecosystem or the environment. Going green activities that result to more environmentally friendly practices that help to safeguard the environment and sustains natural resources. Green science is all about sustainability to secure the ecosystem by reducing, reusing and recycling for continuity of species. Green spaces filter pollutants and dusts from the air. They produce shade and lower temperature in urban areas. They also increase productivity, promote green living that helps to conserve energy and prevent air, water and noise pollution. They are borne for the environment hence prevent health deterioration. Going green can improve general efficacy of a business and can trim operation costs for the business. The environment is the most important resource for life where we get water, power and oxygen hence regarded as our closest neighbour needed for survival. Going green is a choice and it contributes to the development of the planet and makes the place a healthier habitation to live for both present and future generations. Green homes are more durable, reduce carbon footprint, increase creativity, healthy air sufficiency, boost economy, increase floral diversity and allow non-toxicity of products. The study established that we have been living on nature and living green is the only time we pay back. Living green brings happiness and satisfaction to one because green is natural, wealthy, fruitful and productive hence helping to keep the environment secured. It is concluded that green living is a panacea for a secured environment

Promoting environmental protection in Nigeria through environmental education: the role of women

This paper examined the various roles women play in environmental education to promote environmental protection in Nigeria. The paper maintained that Nigeria like most countries in Africa face serious environmental challenges on several fronts including poverty, pollution, land degradation, water security, forest fires, deforestation, climate change and urbanisation due mainly to population pressure. The importance of environmental education has been strongly emphasized not just through schools and colleges but also through training in business and industry, through community activities and through raising public awareness of the environment. It is stressed here that women, being the first teachers of our children, have the capacity to influence others like husbands, house-helps and neighbours and their closeness to the environment supports the need for environmental education right from home for environmental consciousness. The challenges facing women in a bid to carry out this all-important task as highlighted in this paper include inadequate trained personnel, lack of government commitment to funding, lack of flow of information to decision makers, cultural/religious factors, social and economic factors, lack of time and other domestic duties at home. The paper established that the environment, a common heritage of humanity needs to be sustainably managed to fight against poverty, food shortage as well as homelessness which can be some of the serious consequences of environmental degradation. Keywords: Environmental protection, environmental education, promotion, women Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 6 2007: pp. 17-2