ABSTRACT
The level of accumulation of heavy chemicals in the leaves, stem and roots of Corchorusolitorius seedlings irrigated with sewage (Sewage effluent) and tap water to maturity respectively was investigated. Prior to irrigation, water quality indicators and physico-chemical properties of the two water sources were analysed. The experiment, a completely randomized design was carried out in a screen house in the Botanic Garden of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and lasted for four months. The results showed that sewage water had higher values of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and temperature than tap water. The results also showed that tap water had higher values of dissolved oxygen (DO) and transparency than sewage water. The results further showed that sewage water had higher values of the analysed physico-chemical properties than tap water. Again, it showed that sewage water enhanced better seedling growth than tap water. Cadmium, Mercury, Zinc, Copper, Lead and Arsenic accumulation in the leaves, stem and roots were higher in seedlings irrigated with sewage water when compared with those irrigated with tap water. The results further showed that the accumulation of heavy chemicals in the leaves, stem and roots of the seedlings irrigated with both water sources, (Sewage and tap) were higher than the accepted standard of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). Based on the results obtained, it is recommended that continued production of leaf vegetables off-season using sewage water be avoided, because of possible health hazards posed by continued consumption of such vegetables.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
Globally, water has been a major requirement for the growth and development of biotic life. Water has for long exerted strong influence on the choice of place for human settlement. Of all human activities, agriculture and industrial activities have been identified as the highest consumer of water (Nweze and Chimboh, 2003). With time, increase in population and sophisticated advancements in man’s industrial sectors have resulted in drastic scarcity of available natural/clean water.
Terms of Use: This is an academic paper. Students should NOT copy our materials word to word, as we DO NOT encourage Plagiarism. Only use as a guide in developing your original research work. Thanks.
Disclaimer: All undertaking works, records, and reports posted on this website, eprojectguide.com are the property/copyright of their individual proprietors. They are for research reference/direction purposes and the works are publicly supported. Do not present another person’s work as your own to maintain a strategic distance from counterfeiting its results. Use it as a guide and not duplicate the work in exactly the same words (verbatim). eprojectguide.com is a vault of exploration works simply like academia.edu, researchgate.net, scribd.com, docsity.com, course hero, and numerous different stages where clients transfer works. The paid membership on eprojectguide.com is a method by which the site is kept up to help Open Education. In the event that you see your work posted here, and you need it to be eliminated/credited, it would be ideal if you call us on +2348064699975 or send us a mail along with the web address linked to the work, to eprojectguide@gmail.com. We will answer to and honor each solicitation. Kindly note notification it might take up to 24 – 48 hours to handle your solicitation.