Abstract:
Motor oil is considered to be one of pollutants that threaten the environment in
appropriate disposal ways of used oil could leak to soil and water causing contamination
with poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and toxic metals. Used motor oil (UMO) affects
chemical, physical and biological system of soil where plants could accumulate many
PAH and toxic metals. The main purpose of this study is to determine morphological
changes of treated Zea mays with different volumes of UMO. Sulfur concentration was
determined in soil, shoot and root as an indication factor for the presence of PAH. Zea
mays grains were planted in triplicates in soil with different oil treatments; control, 3, 5,
7, 10 ml. Plant height was measured and number of leaves counted every two days after 2
weeks from germination. Plants were isolated from soil, separated into shoot and root and
air dried followed by ovum dry. The relative growth rate and root / shoot ration were
calculated. Sulfur concentration was determined in all samples by using ASTM
D_4294_98. Data were analyzed by ANOVA test on SAS program. The results showed
that morphological changes had a slight difference among samples. Relative growth rate
is not stable among all oil treatments. All R/S ratios for all treated samples was above
control except 5 %. Sulfur concentration was varied between different treatment of oil in
shoot and root with P<0.0168. All treated samples with different concentrations of oil
were above control. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between root
and shoot. Sulfur is a good indication of the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons in plant.
