ABSTRACT

Waste engine oil (WEO) contaminated soil has been considered as harmful to the soil and plants physiology as well. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of waste engine oil contaminated soil on the anatomy of Setaria barbata and Digitaria horizontalis and the concentrations were 0%, 2%, 4%,7% and 10% respectively.  The experimental grasses (D. horizontalis and S. barbata) were collected from the wild fallow farmland in the university campus and the waste engine oil obtained as pooled used engine oil from heavy-duty vehicle at motor mechanic workshop in Umuahia, Abia state. The soil used in this research were sieved and homogenized with the waste engine oil. The plants were raised in buckets containing 4kg of sieved sand each at 80ml, 160ml, 280ml and 400ml. The waste engine oil was mixed to the 4kg sand in the buckets. Each treatment including the control was replicated three times (3x). The plants were allowed for six weeks. At the control, the stomata of S. barbata and D. horizontalis were clearly viewed but as the concentration increased reduction in stomata and increase in sinous epidermal cell wall were seen. Large parenchyma and intercellular air spaces was observed in the stem then the root experienced distortion in the parenchyma pith on both plants (D. horizontalis and S. barbata). This showed that at high concentration of waste engine oil contamination, the anatomic structure and arrangement of cells and tissues are affected negatively and the ability for the two experimental plants (D. horizontalis and S. barbata) to withstand this stress made them fit for phytoremediation. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                                                      i

Declaration                                                                                                                                   ii

Certification                                                                                                                                iii

Dedication                                                                                                                                   iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                       v

Table of contents                                                                                                                        vi

List of Figures                                                                                                                           vii

List of Plates                                                                                                                     viii

Abstract                                                                                                                                        ix

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION                                                                                                                       

1.1 Background Information                                                                                                   1

1.2 Justification of the study                                                                                              3

1.3 Objectives of the study                                                                                                        4

CHAPTER 2

 LITRATURE REVIEW                                                                                                          

2.1. Botany of the experimental plants.                                                                                 5

2.1.1 Taxonomic classification of Digitaria horizontalis                                                     5

2.1.2   Botany of Digitaria horizontalis                                                                                    5

2.1.3   Habitat/Ecology of Digiteria horizontalis                                                                   6

2.2.1 Taxonomic Classification of Setaria barbata                                                               8

2.2.2 Botany of Setaria barbata.                                                                                                8

2.2.3 Habitat/Ecology of Setaria barbata.                                                                              9

2.3 Overview of the effects of waste engine oil contamination on soil.                          10

2.4 Effects of waste engine oil contaminated soil on the plant anatomy                        11

2.5 Effects of waste engine oil treated soil in plant root anatomy                                   11

2.6 Review of phytoremediation                                                                                             12

2.7 Remediation techniques                                                                                                    13

2.7.1 Phytovolatilization                                                                                                          14

2.7.2 Rhizofiltration                                                                                                                  14

2.7.3 Phytoextraction                                                                                                               15

2.7.4 Phytostabilization                                                                                                            15

2.7.5 Phytodegradation                                                                                                            16

2.8 Application of plants for phytoremediation                                                                 17

2.9 Safety measures in phytoremediation process                                                               18

CHAPTER 3

MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1 Study area                                                                                                                            20

3.2 Experimental design                                                                                                          20

3.3 Collection of soil samples                                                                                                  20

3.4 Collection of plant samples                                                                                                21

3.5 Collection of waste engine oil                                                                                            21

3.6 Soil treatment                                                                                                                       21

 3.7 Anatomical Studies                                                                                                             22

3.8 Epidermal Peels                                                                                                                   22

3.9 Photomicrography                                                                                                               23

CHAPTER 4

RESULTS                                                                                                                                   24                                                                                                                       CHAPTER 5 

5.1 Discussion                                                                                                                             36

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                                                            37

5.3 Recommendation `                                                                                                              38