ABSTRACT
This study is aimed at investigating the effect of dumpsite soil on the vegetative growth, heavy metal accumulation, proximate composition and vitamin contents of Telfaira occidentalis. The research was carried out in the screen house of the College of Crop and Soil Sciences Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike. The study was carried out using 5 treatments levels and two replicates each. The dumpsite soil and the normal soil were mixed at different volumes/percentages in all the thirty buckets and two seeds were planted in each of the buckets. All the growth parameters showed positive increase at all the treatments but showed greater increase at the treatment involving equal proportion of dumpsite soil and top soil. The result from the proximate composition showed that plants in higher dumpsite soil treatments had higher dry matter and carbohydrate content but showed lower ash content, moisture content, crude fibre and crude protein content. The dumpsite soil didn’t have any significant effect (p<0.05) on the vitamin composition of T. occidentalis. The result on heavy metals accumulation showed that in all the treatments, the dumpsite soil significantly (p<0.05) influenced the plants by increasing the heavy metal content which was much higher than the accumulation of these metals by plants in the control. This study has shown that planting of crops near dumpsite areas or using dumpsite soil to plant crops may have positive effects on the vegetative growth, but it increases the heavy metals accumulated by such plants which poses health hazards to human health when consumed. It is important to educate the farmers on the best farming practice and regular monitoring of heavy metal contamination should be encouraged in order to avoid possible consumption of contaminated vegetables.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of Content vi
List of Tables viii
List of Figures ix
Abstract x
CHAPTER ONE
1.1Introduction 1
1.2 Botany of the
plant 2
1.3 Justification 4
1.4 Aims and
objectives 4
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature
review 5
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Materials and
method 8
3.1 Study area 8
3.2 Source of
materials 8
3.3
Treatment 8
3.4
Measurement 9
3.4.1
Statistical analysis 9
3.5
Soil composition 10
CHAPTER FOUR
Results 12
CHAPTER FIVE
Discussion 18
Conclusion 20
Recommendation 20
REFRENCES
List of Tables
Table 3.5.1:
Composition of dumpsite soil and top soil 10
Table 4.1: Effect
of dumpsite soil on the heavy metal concentration in the leaves of T. occidentalis in 5 weeks after
planting 15
Table 4.2:
Effect of dumpsite soil on the proximate composition in the leaves of T.
occidentalis
in 5 weeks after planting 16
Table 4.3:
Effect of dumpsite soil on the vitamins concentration in the leaves of T.
occidentalis in
5 weeks after planting 17
List of Figures
Fig. 4.1: Effect
of dumpsite soil on the length of T.
occidentalis 12
Fig. 4.2:
Effect of dumpsite soil on the number of leaves of T. occidentalis 13
Fig. 4.3:
Effect of dumpsite soil on the number of stalks of T. occidentalis 14
CHAPTER ONE
1.1
INTRODUCTION
Various studies have been conducted or
carried out to investigate and evaluate the properties of dumpsite soils as it
affects or influences the environment and plants growing in or around them.
Chopra et al., (2009) described waste dumps
practices as the disposal of solid waste by infilling depressions on land. The
depressions into which solid wastes are often dumped include valleys and
excavations. The use of these municipal waste dumps, residue
from human consumption and agricultural activities can improve soil physical
and chemical properties and also the fertility and production (Sposito, 1982).
Compost represent an important resource to maintain and restore soil fertility
and are of great value nowadays, particularly in those countries where the
organic matter content of the soil is low (Castaldi et al., 2004). Soil
organic matter plays a major role in maintaining soil quality (Pedra et al.,
2007). In addition to supplying plant nutrients, the type and amount of soil
organic matter influences several soil properties (Arau’jo et al.,
2008). Nevertheless, the application of composted waste to agricultural soils
requires caution due to the possibility of food chain contamination and
negative effects on soil microbiology, particularly rhizobia (Singh and
Agrawal, 2009).
Dumpsite
soils which contain these solid wastes are a major environmental threat to most
Nigerian cities. The rapid population growth, industrialization and
technological changes and patterns have increased solid waste challenges (Magaji,
2005). These factors and several others such as inadequate infrastructure, weak
environmental administration and management are responsible for ineffective
waste management services (Magaji, 2005). Solid Waste varies in composition,
which may be influenced by many factors, such as culture affluence, location
etc. Awomeso et al., (2010) reported that soil, plants and groundwater
acidification and nitrification have been linked to waste dumps as well as
microbial contamination of soil and groundwater system. Increase in population
and rapid expansion of cities has resulted to generation of huge waste and the
manner these wastes are disposed constitutes serious health and environmental
problems.
The
problem of solid waste is not just that of generation nor collection but also
that of disposal and its effects on the quality of soils and plants positively
and negatively. The open dumping of solid waste apart from being unsanitary and
unaesthetic creates breeding space for rodents, flies, mosquitoes and other
disease carrying vectors, contaminates soils and plants which could pose serious
problems and health risk, (Magaji, 2005). Dumpsite soil containing these solid
waste constitute contaminants like heavy metals, acid mine, cyanides,
radioactive substance and industrial chemicals, these are substance that are
not only dangerous in themselves but can greatly react in a way that their
total effects can always be greater than the sum of the effects taken independently
with other materials (Larsen and Nielsen, 1992). These adverse impacts of
dumpsites include: threat to public health, production of methane through the
decomposition of organic matters, and toxicity to plants especially deposition
of heavy metals and all round vegetative growth of plants (Khan et al., 2008).
1.2 Botany of the plant
Telfairia
occidentalis (Hook,
F.) is a tropical vine grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. Common names for the plant
include fluted gourd, fluted pumpkin, and ugu in
the Igbo language. T. occidentalis is
a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and is indigenous to
southern Nigeria (Akoroda, 1990). The fluted
pumpkin is one of the most popular vegetables that grows in many nations of
West Africa, ranking as one of the three most widely eaten vegetables cultivated
in South Eastern parts of Nigeria (Abiose, 1999).
It is used primarily as food and
herbal medicines (Nwanna, 2008). The leaves are widely used in the preparation
of various local vegetable soups e.g. ‘Ugu soup’ in Igbo land. The
leaves are also popularly used for anemic patients, it is known to contain high
amounts of antioxidants and possess hepato-protective and antimicrobial
properties (Nwanna, 2008).
The seeds are eaten roasted or
boiled. It can also be pounded and eaten in soup (Ibe and Ezedinma, 1979;
Esiaba, 1982). The non-drying nature of oil from raw seeds of Telfairia makes
it ideal for cooking and soap making (Burkill, 1985). The
seeds of Telfairia occidentalis are usually viable only a few days after
being removed from the pod. They lose viability when dried below relatively
high moisture content (Robert and King, 1981; Akoroda, 1990); therefore long
distance transport is usually in the form of mature fruits (Rice et al., 1986).
The
roots of the plant are potent poisons to humans and are not consumed (Akoroda,
1990).
1.3
JUSTIFICATION
The present research is aimed at investigating the
effect of dumpsite soil on the vegetative growth, the proximate content,
vitamins content and the heavy metal accumulation of fluted pumpkin leaves of Telfairia occidentalis. This is due to the
need to reduce harmful environmental effects from dumpsite soil on growing
plants. There is no doubt that the
result of this work will not only unveil the good effect of dumpsite soil to
plants, but will also help in increasing yield and quality of plants grown and
also help in eradicating the problem of food scarcity.
1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This
study was undertaken:
1.
To
assess the effect of dumpsite soil on the vegetative growth of Telfairia occidentalis.
2.
To determine
the effect of dumpsite soil on the heavy metal accumulation of the leaves of Telfairia occidentalis.
3.
To
investigate the effect of dumpsite soil on the proximate content of the leaves
of Telfairia occidentalis.
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