ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effects of crude oil contamination on the total chlorophyll (T. Chlorophyll) content of Cynodon Dactylon, a widely distributed turfgrass species. Samples were collected from a polluted site (Amukpe, Delta State) and a control site (University of Benin) to assess the impact of contamination. The samples were analyzed spectrophotometrically to determine their T. Chlorophyll levels.

The results, presented in Table 4.1, showed that the mean T. Chlorophyll level in samples from the polluted site (0.1132 mg/mL ± 0.02 SEM) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from the control site samples (0.1134 mg/mL ± 0.005 SEM). This lack of significant difference suggests that the level of contamination at the polluted site was not severe enough to substantially affect the T. Chlorophyll content of Cynodon Dactylon within the study time frame. However, the study only evaluated T. Chlorophyll as an indicator of plant health. Previous research has shown that prolonged exposure to pollutants can lead to oxidative stress, reduced photosynthetic efficiency, and altered nutrient uptake in plants, even if chlorophyll levels are unaffected initially. Additionally, factors like the nature and concentration of contaminants, as well as exposure duration, may influence the plant's response.Overall, while this study did not find a significant impact on T. Chlorophyll levels, further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of crude oil contamination on Cynodon Dactylon and other physiological parameters related to plant health and stress tolerance.