[Babajide et. al., Vol.5 (Iss.11): November, 2017] ISSN- 2350-0530(O), ISSN- 2394-3629(P) DOI: https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i11.2017.2368 Science EVALUATION OF PHYTO-EXTRACTION POTENTIALS AND PERFORMANCE OF FALSE SESAME (CERATOTHECA SESAMOIDES) UNDER INDUCED SOIL POLLUTION BY AUTOMOBILE LUBRICANT IN SAVANNA ECOREGION Babajide P.A. *1, Popoola O.J. 2, Gbadamosi J. 3, Oyedele T. A. 4, Liasu, M.O. 5 *1 Department of Crop Production and Soil Science, P.M.B. 4000, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria 2 Department of Agricultural Technology, Crop Production unit, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, P.M.B. 10, Igboora 3 Department of Agricultural Education, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, PMB 1010, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria 4 Department of Biology, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria 5 Department of Pure and Applied Biology, P.M.B. 4000, Ladoke Akintola Abstract While strategizing towards achieving improved soil fertility for sustainable tropical crop production, timely application of fertilizers on regular basis alone is not the University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria best approach, particularly on polluted soils. However, seeking for reliable natural, biological and environment friendly means of ensuring effective riddance of toxic elements or heavy metals from tropical agricultural soils is equally a worthwhile technology. An open-field potted experiment was conducted during early raining season of 2016 (March-July), at the Teaching and Research Farms of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, to investigate the effect of spent engine oil polluted soil conditions on performance and heavy metal accumulation potentials of Ceratotheca sesamoides. Spent engine oil was applied at different concentrations (0.0ml, 50.0ml, 100.0ml, 150.0ml, and 200.0ml to each pot containing 7kg soil. Four pots per treatments were used. The trial was arranged in Completely Randomised Design (CRD), replicated three (3) times. Data were collected on growth parameters (number of leaves, plant height, stem girth, leaf length and leaf breadth). The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to the means. Pre and post-cropping soil analyses were carried out, for determination of nutrient concentrations. Also, after the termination of the experiment, plant samples were collected from each of the pots for oven-drying followed by determination of nutrient concentrations (including the heavy metals). Oil pollution significantly affected growth and heavy metal accumulation of the test-crop. Growth decreases with increasing rate of lubricant application, while the heavy metal concentrations in the test-crop increased with increasing concentrations of the applied spent engine oil. Thus, Ceratotheca sesamoides is a wild plant which could be easily exploited for its heavy metals hyper-accumulative or phyto- Http://www.granthaalayah.com ©International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH [355] [Babajide et. al., Vol.5 (Iss.11): November, 2017] ISSN- 2350-0530(O), ISSN- 2394-3629(P) DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1117277 extractive potentials, so as to reclaim heavy metals polluted soils from toxicity, for sustainable crop production. Keywords: False Sesame; Heavy Metals; Soil Pollution; Spent Automobile Lubricant Oil; Hyper-Accumulative Potentials. Cite This Article: Babajide P.A., Popoola O.J., Gbadamosi J., Oyedele T. A., and Liasu, M.O.. (2017). “EVALUATION OF PHYTO-EXTRACTION POTENTIALS AND PERFORMANCE OF FALSE SESAME (CERATOTHECA SESAMOIDES) UNDER INDUCED SOIL POLLUTION BY AUTOMOBILE LUBRICANT IN SAVANNA ECOREGION.” International Journal of Research - Granthaalayah, 5(11), 355-365,10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i11.2017.2368. 1. Introduction Undesirable pollution of most tropical agricultural soils by pesticides such as fungicides, bactericides, insecticides, herbicides etc. is not now uncommon. However, incessant and abusive utilization of these chemicals is a major reason for their attributed residual toxic effects on plants, animals and agriculturally beneficial soil microbes in cultivated fields (Sobulo, 2000). Heavy metals are defined as metallic elements that have a relatively high density compared to water (Fergusson, 1990). With the assumption that heaviness and toxicity are inter-related, heavy metals also include metalloids, such as arsenic, that are able to induce toxicity even at low levels of exposure (Duffus, 2002). Amongst such are zinc, copper, cadmium, copper and nickel, which are now imposing serious threats to man, animals and general agricultural activities (Singh et al., 2007). Under normal agricultural circumstances, like other micro nutrients, these mineral elements are needed by plants in traces or small dosages, for proper plant growth and physiological functioning (Hall, 2002). In cases when these nutrients were applied in undesirably high quantities, they become toxic (Kramer et al., 2007). In addition, when these nutrients are available in high concentrations, they were reported to influence general crop performance (Blaylock and Huang, 2000; Hajiboland et al., 2006). The reported sources of heavy metals in the environment include geogenic, industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, domestic effluents and atmospheric sources (He et al, 2005; Babajide and Aribisala, 2014). These impose health hazards, as well as reduction in the crop-able hectares of land (Fergusson, 1990; Bradl, 2002; He et al., 2005; Stern, 2010). However, environmental restoration of polluted soils by conventional technologies demands large economic resources (Cunningham and Berti, 2000; Ensley, 2000; Nascimento and Xing, 2006). Thus, a more affordable approach to de-contaminate soils is increasingly gaining interest nowadays. Phyto-extraction simply means the use of plants to remove heavy metals from soils by storing them in above-ground biomass (Raskin et al., 1997). It has been developed as an economically and environmentally attractive technology to de-contaminate heavy metals polluted soils (Terry and Bañuelos, 2000). So far, two phyto-extraction strategies have been developed. The first one is the use of hyper-accumulating plants which naturally and aggressively consume and concentrate metals in their above ground tissues. The other strategy involves the use of high biomass plants that are induced to accumulate metals through chelants’ applications in soils (Blaylock et al., 1997; Huang et al., 1997; Cooper et al., 1999; Melo et al., 2006). The main drawback for the public acceptance of this technique is the risk that synthetic Http://www.granthaalayah.com ©International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH [356] [Babajide et. al., Vol.5 (Iss.11): November, 2017] ISSN- 2350-0530(O), ISSN- 2394-3629(P) DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1117277 chelants pose to environment due to a possible excessive metal solubilization and consequent leaching (Stern, 2010; Chen et al., 2004). False sesame (Ceratotheca sesamoides) is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Pedaliaceae (Fasakin, 2004). The plant predominantly exists in Africa, Indo-Malayan region and tropical Australia (Fasakin, 2004). It has sixteen (16) genera and sixty (60) species. It possesses tender edible shoots. The leaves and fruits are also eaten whole or in parts either raw or cooked. Sesames were reported to be a good source of protein, oil, vitamins and minerals (Fasakin, 2004; Weiss, 2000; Babajide, 2010). Furthermore, false sesame plant is not recognized as an originally cultivated plant or cultivar, but it is a versatile plant which is highly rated by some local communities for its some reliable medicinal and domestic uses. False sesame is commonly used in the treatments of some deadly childhood diseases such as measles (Fasakin, 2004). The leaves are steeped and the slimy liquid dropped into the eye to treat conjunctivitis, while the mucilage is occasionally used as an emollient and lubricant (Grubben and Denton, 2004). The leaf is a good antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive agent. The leaves are used as an abortifacient, as well as for the treatments of cutaneous and subcutaneous parasitic infections, diarrhoea and dysentery, while the seed oil is a useful active insecticide (Fasakin, 2004; Sharma, 2005; El-Habbasa et al., 2007) Although, little is known about its vegetable potentials, the plant grows relatively rapidly and produces considerably high herbage or massive vegetative materials within a short period of time, under favourable edaphic and atmospheric conditions (Fasakin, 2004). However, considering the rapid and aggressive growth attributes, and the early massive formation of foliage, this research work was aimed at harnessing these desirable attributes by evaluating the possible phyto-extractive potentials of false sesame (Ceratotheca sesamoides), under simulated spent engine oil polluted soil. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Description of Experimental Location The experiment was carried out in the year 2016, at the Teaching and Research farms of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora. This experimental site is located on latitude 7° 28ʾN and 4° 33ʾE in the derived savannah zone of south western Nigeria. Igboora is naturally characterized by bimodal rainfall distribution. The rainfall distribution involves early rains which start in late March / early April and end in late July / early August, followed by a short dry spell in August. The late rainy season spans between August and November. 2.2. Land