ABSTRACT

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of charcoal, sooth and spent oil on the growth of cow-pea (Vignia unguiculataL.), maize (Zea mays), okro (Abelmoschus esculentus). The research was carried out in the screen house of the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike. The study was carried out using 4 treatments and two replicates for each plant. The charcoal, soot and spent oil was mixed with the soil and a control soil for the four plants each, two seeds were planted in each of the buckets. The result for all plants on the charcoal treatment showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in both plant height and number of leaves. The result for all plants in the sooth treatment showed that the plants had a reduction in plant height but showed significant increase (p<0.05) in number of leaves over the plants treated with spent oil. The result for some plants in the charcoal treatment showed significant increase (p<0.05) in plant height over the plants in control, while some in the control increased over some plants in the charcoal treatment. This study has shown that charcoal increases plant growth due to the carbon contents it contains, while the spent oil and sooth decreased the growth of the plants. It is important to educate the farmers on the best farming practice and regular monitoring of contamination of the soil by spent oil and sooth alongside charcoal.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page    i

Declaration ii

Certification iii

Dedication iv 

Acknowledgement v

Table of Content vi

List of Figures viii

Abstract x

CHAPTER ONE 

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Justification 5

1.3 Objectives of the study 6

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review 7

2.1 Effect of Carbon Sources to the germination of Plant 7

2.2 Origin of Carbon 8

2.3 Carbon sources and climate change 9

2.4 Effects of Soot, charcoal and ash on soils  10

2.5 Effects of Soot, charcoal and ash (Biochar) on soils physical, chemical and microbial properties 12

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and method 15

3.1 Study area 15

3.2 Source of materials 15

3.3 Treatment 15

3.4 Measurement of parameters 16

CHAPTER FOUR

Results 17

CHAPTER FIVE

Discussion 23

Conclusion 25

Recommendation 25

REFRENCES