Influence of Untreated Pharmaceutical Effluent on the Germination and Growth of Amaranthus Viridis L. (African Spinach) Collected From Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The swift advancement in the pharmaceutical industry has raised concerns regarding the impact of its wastewater on the environment, particularly on edible plants. It has also been observed that peasant communities close to pharmaceutical industries use waste effluents from the industries to grow crops. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the influence of untreated pharmaceutical effluent on the germination and growth of Amaranthus viridis L. (African spinach) collected from Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. It was observed that low levels of pharmaceutical wastewater promoted growth, whereas higher levels negatively impacted plant development and decreased chlorophyll content, resulting in hindered growth and lower yields. The germination percentage was recorded at 100% in the control group. However, it decreased between 61.18% and 79.14% in spinach grown on soils polluted with pharmaceutical effluent. The spinach plants from 100% treatment soils had 2 branches, while the plants from 60% treatment soils had 4 branches. Total fresh weight in spinach from soil contaminated with 60% wastewater had the highest value of 65.82g, while those from soil containing 100% wastewater had the lowest value of 34.67g. The control group's total fresh weight was 51.69g. This study emphasizes how urgently the pharmaceutical industries need strict wastewater treatment procedures. Additionally, it offers useful information that helps farmers, environmental scientists, and legislators balance ecological health with agricultural output.