IMPACT OF SOLUBLE METAL SALTS AND CRUDE OIL CONTAMINANTS ON WATER RETENTION CAPACITY OF SOIL AND PROTEIN CONTENT OF Zea mays

This study seek to maintain what is observable in a real environmental deteriorative field involving medium to large scale of metal salts applicable when in excess in an agricultural land as well as spillage of crude oil. Specifically, calculated quantities of soluble metal salts and crude oil were used in the contamination of a given quantity of soil microcosm consisting of 8 grams per group, and certain biotic and abiotic components (protein content and percentage water retention capacity) investigated after duplication of each soil microcosm. The study groups include: unspiked soil (Control A), spiked soil (Control B) as well as treatments of 5, 10 and 20% w/w (Petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)/soil).The result of the study was quite informative, illustrating the fact that crude oil reduces the amount of protein produced in Zea mays. The spiked soil also showed that soluble metal salt when in excess can reduce the amount of protein produced in Zea mays although not as much as crude oil. Crude oil contamination also increased the percentage of water retained in the soil more than soils containing spike metal salts. The unspiked soil had the highest protein production in Zea mays and the least percentage water retaining ability.