World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
Abstract
The susceptibility of Manihot esculenta to Nigeria\u2019s Forcados
blend crude oil was investigated for 8 weeks using soil supplemented
with 0-5% v/w oil/soil. Parameters considered include, plant height,
leaf area, dry weight, relative growth rate, total chlorophyll and
nitrate reductase activity of the plant. A significant (p=0.05)
reduction in these parameters were observed in plants exposed to oil
treatments. Comparatively, the control plants had a mean height and
chlorophyll level of 43.27\ub13.08 cm and 3.2468\ub10.0038 mg g-1
f.wt respectively after 8 weeks, while plants grown in soil containing
5% oil correspondingly had 23.70\ub10.00 cm and 1.9374\ub10.0052
g-1 f.wt. The oil treatment also had a significant inhibitory effect on
the nitrogen metabolism of the plant as indicated by nitrate reductase
activity. The results of this study showed the toxic effects of
Nigeria\u2019s Forcados blend crude oil on Manihot esculenta