Biometric Indices of Arachis hypogaea Plant Grown in Kutchalli Waste Pit Materials (Soils) in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Kutchalli drilling waste pit materials (WPM) in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, exploration site in Borno State of Nigeria was evaluated for systemic toxicity to inhabitants (man, animal and plants) via the food chain. In this experiment, biometric indices were analysed using standard methods. Results obtained showed that the
control soil (group 1) had plant height of 27cm ±0.2, leaf length 2.8cm ±0.3, while those of the wpm soils of group 5 had plant height of 25cm ±0.2, leaf length 2.3cm ±0.1 and group 7 plant height of 19cm ±0.3 and 1.6cm ±0.2 with a significant difference at p<0.5. Currently,
WPM generated from crude oil drilling activities are not properly disposed off, therefore usually get washed away into various water bodies and arable farm lands through leaching. In view of these, fears have been expressed in connection with the utilization of these food products for consumption, which are believed to be of serious health risks to both plants and animals (man). Arachis hypogaea was used as a test plant to ascertain these fears.