EFFECT OF SPENT LUBRICATING OIL ON THE ROOT LENGTH OFSorghum bicolor(l) moench (BROWN SORGHUM) AND Glycine max(SOYA BEANS)

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the impact of spent lubricating oil on the root length of brown sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and soybeans (Glycine max) during the crucial early phase of germination, spanning 14 days. Spent lubricating oil, a residue of industrial processes, is known to harbour hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which pose potential threats to soil and crop health. Controlled experiments were meticulously conducted, exposing seeds of brown sorghum and soybeans to various fractions of spent lubricating oil within the soil. The spent lubricating oil was fractionated into different fractions Viz: water insoluble fraction (WIF), water soluble fraction(WSF) , and whole spent oil (WSLO). Root length, a pivotal metric for initial growth and nutrient absorption, was systematically measured and analyzed. The findings revealed a significant (p> 0.05) increase across various groups of both soybeans and brown sorghum. Except for group 3(WSF) of brown sorghum which showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the root length as compared to the control after 14 days of germination. This result indicates that xi small concentrations of spent lubricating oil may be beneficial to plants, however, it becomes detrimental to plant when the concentration is increased.