Impact of Crude Oil Treatments on the Growth, Survival, Morphology and Plant Based Component of Eichhornia crassipes

This experimental study was carried out to investigate the growth response, survival and morphology of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Pontederiaceae) in crude oil polluted freshwater. The parameters measured include leaf diameter, stem girth, root length, chlorophyll content index and biomass production. The experimental treatment concentrations used were 0% (control), 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% (v/v). Using three replicates per treatment, the plants were exposed to all concentrations for eighteen days. The result showed that leaf diameter, stem girth, root length and chlorophyll content index were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in E. crassipes when exposed to all concentrations of crude oil for eighteen days when compared with samples grown without treatment (0%). The effects were concentration dependent. The leaves of the test plant also showed signs of wilting and chlorosis at the end of the experiment. The study has shown that E. crassipes can play a role in phytoremediation at low level of oil pollution and can also be used as a biomonitor of high concentration of crude oil pollution in fresh water habitats.