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ABSTRACT
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most significant, economically viable and stable food crops cultivated in Nigeria, a major producer of crude oil in Africa. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of crude oil contamination on the growth performance and chlorophyll content of Zea mays L. This was done by utilizing common field experimental techniques to analyze specific physicochemical characteristics. Also, the total petroleum hydrocarbons in the different soil samples were examined with Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The maize plants were cultivated in a sandy loam soil with varying crude oil treatment rates (2%, 5%, and 10%, respectively). It was then harvested 4 weeks following seedling sprouting. The findings of this study demonstrate that the pollution caused by crude oil has a negative impact on all of the growth metrics of Zea mays grown in the polluted soil. The highest average height for the 80ml, 200ml, and 400ml treatments were 56.43 cm, 67.10 cm, and 46.10 cm, respectively. While the control's highest mean height was 101.13 cm. With an increase in crude oil concentration, the chlorophyll content of Zea mays leaves decreased. Also, with an increasing concentration of crude contamination, the amount of total petroleum hydrocarbons also rose significantly (P < 0.05). It can be inferred from this research that soil contaminated with crude oil causes a decrease in the proper growth, development, productivity and chlorophyll content of maize plants. This could in turn result in shortage of maize and cause major health concerns with the consumption of maize due to rising heavy metal concentrations.
