Effects Of Spent Engine Oil On Soil Characteristics And Selected Phytochemicals In Amaranthus Hybridus

Abstract Spent engine oil is hazardous to the environment. Indiscriminate disposal of spent engine oil drain from engines after servicing has been found to affect the environment. An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of spent engine oil pollution on soil characteristics and the ability of Amaranthushybridusto thrive in the soil supplemented with varying concentrations of spent engine oil ranging from 50- 300 mL. Soil pH was slightly increased due to spent engine oil pollution. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were reduced in the polluted soils and the soil organic carbon was increased. Soil samples polluted with spent engine oil showed increased bulk and particle densities and also decreased water holding capacity and porosity. The spent engine oil pollution affected the phytochemicals and resulted in the increased concentration of anti- nutrient tannin and decreased concentrations of nutrients like alkaloids, flavonoids, etc. The results of this study suggest that spent engine oil at any concentration seriously affects the soil properties and phytochemical analysis showed the inhibitory effects of spent engine oil on Amaranthushybridus.