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ABSTRACT The study investigated the capacity for Vernonia amygdalina to phytoaccumulate cadmium (Cd) in polluted soil under the influence of soil wetting with soap-based grey water. Also investigated were selected foliar growth responses under Cd-stress. Sun-dried top soil (0 – 10 cm) was obtained as pooled and spiked with Cd (as CdCl2) and the set up was divided into 6 sub treatments of 9 replicates each. Each sub treatment was subjected to periodic wetting with grey water - daily (D), twice weekly (DW), weekly (W), fortnightly (WM), and monthly (M). The control soil on the other hand, received regular wetting with tap water (pH 6.46 – 7.02). Subsequently, equal-sized stem cuttings of Vernonia amygdalina (20 cm long, 2.5 – 3.0 cm thick) obtained for the study were sown in both treated and control soils. After 3 months, results showed that total number of leaves per plant was significantly higher in grey water-wetted treatments (76 - 105), compared to the control (51). Leaf chlorosis was observed in control and grey water-wetted plant treatments with control plants showing 60.60% of the total number of leaves as chlorotic. There was no report of necrotic lesions in any part of the leaves for both control and treated plants. Soil was originally contaminated with Cd at 50 mg/kg. Three months after plant exposure without grey water wetting (C), residual concentration of metal in the soil was 10.21 mg/kg leaving 19.46 mg/kg accumulated in the leaves. Foliar concentration of Cd was non-detectable in D, DW, W, WM and M, an indication that grey water hampered foliar bioaccumulation of Cd.
