ABSTRACT

The effect of crude oil on growth and survival of Capsicum annuum was investigated in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Planting was done in polythene bags measuring (60 x 25x 15cm) and each bag was filled with 15kg of top soil (0-15m depth) collected from Ologbo flow station, Benin City. Two polythene bags per crude oil concentration were replicated thrice in a randomized block design which made a total of 18 bags. Treatment of the soil was carried out by weighing the concentration of crude oil ranging from MI (75% unpolluted soil + 25% crude oil polluted soil) and HI (50% unpolluted soil + 50% crude oil polluted soil) into soil samples contained in polythene bags. Each concentration of polluted soil was thoroughly mixed using hand trowel. Six seedlings of Capsicum annuum were planted into each of the soil sample treated with varying concentrations of crude oil resulting in a total of 108 seedlings. The result indicated that crude oil pollution significantly reduced (p< 0.05) the growth of the Capsicum plant at higher pollution rate than at lower pollution rate. This thus implies that the higher the quantity or concentration of the crude oil in the soil the more effect it would have on the growth and survival of Capsicum plant.