Pollution Research Paper

Vol. 36, Issue 4, 2017; Page No.(908-917)

EFFECT OF REFINERY SLUDGE ON SEED GERMINATION ANDGROWTH OF ELEVEN PLANT SPECIES AND ON SOIL PROPERTIES

JYOTI LUHACH AND SMITA CHAUDHRY

Abstract

Remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils, using plant based systems, is known as a veryperspective and emerging field of environmental biotechnology. The present study aims atselection of plant species that could be effective in the phytoremediation of refinery sludgecontaminated sites. A total of eleven plant species were selected for the study, including millets(Zea mays, Pennisetumglaucum, Sorghum vulgare, Avena sativa, Hordeum vulgare), pulses (Vignaradiata and Glycine max), fibrous crops (Gossypium hirsutum and Crotalaria juncea) and animalfeed crops (Trifoliumalexandrinum and Sesbania aculeate). These species were screened for theirphytotoxicity towards different concentrations of refinery sludge. A significant variation (p<0.01)in all treatments was observed for morphological characters and biomass of all species after plantharvest. Physiochemical changes in soil properties were also observed after the growth of differentplants in refinery sludge contaminated soil. Among all the species studied, Crotalaria juncea andGossypium hirsutum were able to grow better in higher levels of sludge contamination, followedby Zea mays. Having better tolerance for petroleum pollutants, these two species can berecommended for phytoremediation of sludge contaminated sites and being non-edible and useful fibrous crops with high calorific values, these can also be used as fuel in industries and as clothing,decorative and packing materials.

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