Effects Of Palm Oil Mill Effluent On The Germination Of Seeds Of Abebnoschus Esculentus L., Glycine Max L .And Zea Mays L.:- Awazie, Lucky N.

ABSTRACTS

 Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is considered the most harmful waste for the I environment it discharged untreated. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of palm oil mill effluent on seed germination percentages of Abehnoschus esculentus, Glycine max, and Zea mays. The seeds were collected from National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia state. The seeds were raised in Petri dish, irrigated with different concentration of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (25, 50, 75 and 100%) and Petri dish containing distilled water served as the control. Each treatment was replicated three times including the control with ten seeds planted in each Petri dish. The seed were allowed for five days to germinate with once a day wetting of the dishes. At lower concentrations (25%) the seeds of Glycine max, Abelmoschns esculentus and Zea mays showed highest germination. Glycine max (soya beans) showed the highest resistance to the pollutant (POME) with maximum germination percentage of 93.33% at the treatment level of 25% and 80.00% at control, Abehnoschus esculentus had 40.00% in control and 25% concentration while Zea mays had 46.67% as the maximum at control. The germination rate of the seeds at 50%, 75%, and 100% concentration was lower compared to ones grown in control (0%) and 25% concentration among the seeds of Glycine max, Abehnoschus esculentus and Zea mays. This shows that at high concentrations of POME, the germination percentages ofAbehnoschus esculentus, Glycine max and Zea mays were lowered, while lower concentrations increases the germination percentages.