Eco-physiological Response, Nutritional Composition, and Heavy Metal Concentrations of Capsicum frutescens L. Irrigated with Industrial Effluent

Irrigation of crops with effluent in water deficit areas is essential but their environmental effects are often neglected. Thus, this study aimed at assessing eco-physiological response, nutritional composition, and metal concentrations of Capsicum frutescens irrigated with industrial effluent. Potted plants were divided into 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100% for effluent concentrations and each was watered with respective concentrations. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, stem height, leaf area and stem girth were measured and samples harvested were analyzed for proximate, vitamins A and E, minerals and heavy metal concentrations using standard procedures. Data collected were subjected to One-way analysis of variance at p≤0.05 using Statistix version 10. Morphometric results revealed that seedlings watered with 50% effluent concentration had highest leaf length, leaf breadth and leaf area while 70% effluent concentration had highest number of leaves, wider stem girth and stem height. Proximate analysis revealed highest contents of moisture (64.90±0.03%) carbohydrate (23.69±0.03%) and protein (6.01±0.04%), for 100% effluent concentration. Highest vitamin A (101.77 mg/g) and vitamin E (17.1 mg/g) were recorded in C. frutescens watered with 100% effluent. Mineral analyses revealed that C. frutescens treated with 100% had highest K (39.44±0.02mg/kg), Na(17.30±0.18mg/kg), Ca (9.43±0.03mg/kg) and Mg (5.23±0.32mg/kg). Heavy metal analysis showed concentrations ranged for Cu (0.00-0.11mg/kg), Cr (0.00-0.02mg/kg), Ni (0.00-0.09mg/kg), Co (0.000.09mg/kg), Mn (0.01-0.22mg/kg), Zn (0.01-0.52mg/kg) and Fe (0.05-12.91mg/kg) in C. frutescens roots, stem, leaves and fruits at different industrial effluent concentrations. From this study, it could be inferred that effluent had positive effects on growth parameters (like leaf area, number of leaves, stem girth and stem height), mineral, and nutritional composition as well as non-significant effect on heavy metal contents of C. frutescens.