ABSTRACT
Glycine max (Soya Beans) is believed to have been first domesticated in central China as early as the 7000BCE, while the origin of Sorghum bicolor is still obscure. Glycine max (Soya beans) is an annual legume of the pea family, Fabaceae. It is commonly grown as a food crop in major parts of Asia and other parts of the world. As an erect branching plant, with self fertilizing flowers, reaching more than 2metres in height, has shown significant importance in areas of food and medicine. Sorghum bicolor is a grain, with cane-like grass stems. They are mostly annual cultivars, widely distributed throughout the world. The seeds of sorghum bicolor are eaten as food, providing rich supply of carbohydrate nutrients. In this study, we aimed to identify the effect of spent lubricating oil on the growth of stems of Glycine max and Sorghum bicolor. Seeds of Glycine max and Sorghum bicolor were obtained from a local market in the area, cut open, washed, dried and finally soaked in water for 24 hours to allow easy removal of the outer skin of the seed. The seeds of each plant were grouped into four categories: the normal control group which contained only water + seeds, water insoluble fraction of the spent oil+ seeds (group 2), water soluble fraction of the spent oil + seeds (group 4). The seeds were then planted in specially prepared pots, with each group having 3 of these pots each, and allowed to grow for 14 days, after which the stem was measured. Results obtained indicated slight increase in stem length (although not significant (P>0.05)), by both water soluble and insoluble fractions of the spent oil, in both Glycine max and Sorghum bicolor. Group 4 in both plants, showed slight decrease in stem length, from the normal group. Again, this decrease was not significant (P> 0.05). The result of the study shows that both Glycine max and Sorghum bicolor were tolerant to the different fraction of spent lubrication oil. Therefore, spent lubricating oil can be used to boost food security in Edo State, Nigeria.
