International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research
Abstract
Physiological studies on Phaseolus vulgaris L. in medium irrigated with different sources of water obtained from Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria were conducted in the laboratory. Three (3) sources of water; stream water, rain water and tap water were used alongside a control (distilled water). Analysis of water samples for physico-chemical characteristics was conducted using standard procedures. 10 seeds of the test crop were sown in sterilized Petri dishes containing two sterile What-Man’s filter paper per treatment and replicated five (5) times. The experimental set up was maintained in a growth chamber under light condition at 28±1oC for two (2) weeks. Coefficient of velocity of germination, germination percentage, shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of the seedlings were determined. There were marked variations (P < 0.05) in pH value, contents of dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, and total suspended solids as well as mineral elements contents of the three water samples. Similarly, the coefficient of velocity of germination, germination percentage and growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of P. vulgaris varied significantly (P < 0.05) among the three treatments, although in most cases the germination and growth responses were comparatively lower than that of the control treatment. This study suggests that both nutrients and non- nutrients composition of irrigation water can influence the growth performance of the test crop
