Effects of pharmaceutical effluents on germination, growth and development of Amaranthus hybridus L

Abstract

The growth and development of Amaranthus hybridus polluted with pharmaceutical effluents were studied. Preliminary experiments were carried out in the Laboratory and Screen house with Paracetamol (P) and Amoxicillin (B) effluents. Distilled water served as the control. Media utilized for the main experiment was remediated with poultry manure and compost from Delonix regia leaves. Results from the preliminary experiments in the laboratory showed that seedlings germinated on effluent P had significantly (p < 0.05) higher shoot length, root length and percentage germination. Results from screen house experiments showed yellowed, stunted seedlings for the polluted treatments at week 3; control had significantly (p < 0.05) the highest leaf area, shoot and root lengths. Seedlings grown on effluent P had the lowest growth parameters. In the experiment with remediated soil, both polluted and unpolluted plants showed morphological similarities. T3 (Soil + Poultry manure + effluent B) recorded the highest mean fresh weight of leaves, stem and root at week 7. T2 (Soil + Poultry + effluent P) recorded the highest mean leaf area, plant height, stem girth and root circumference at week 10. A. hybridus adapted to and utilized pharmaceutical pollutants better while under natural attenuation (outdoor, with access to unsterilized soil and direct sunlight). These findings suggest caution in the use of effluents in agricultural practices.