Impact of Kerosene, Diesel and Gasoline Treatments on the Morphology, Growth Indices and Plant Based Component of an Aquatic Macrophyte Eichhornia Crassipes

Abstract

A study was carried out at the screen house of the Department of
Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Benin City to
determine the growth response of water hyacinth (Eichhornia
crassipes) to three refined petroleum products: gasoline, kerosene
and diesel oil. The experimental treatments used were 0% (control),
10%, 13%, 15% (v/v) for kerosene, diesel and gasoline respectively.
The parameters measured include leaf diameter, stolon girth, root
length, chlorophyll content index, plant height, stolon length and
biomass. Using randomized complete block design (RCBD) and 3
replicate per treatment, the plant was exposed to treatment for 14
days. The results obtained from the experiment showed reduction in
leaf diameter, root length, stolon girth, plant height and chlorophyll
content exposed to all concentration of petroleum products for 14
days when compared with the test plant without treatment. The
results showed that kerosene had more toxic effect on the plant than
diesel and gasoline. Chlorosis and wilting were also observed in
abaxial and adaxial surface of the leaves of the test plant at the end
of the experiment. The findings from this study show that
concentration and duration of exposure are the factors that
determine the effect of petroleum products on E. crassipes.