Effect of Industrial Coconut Oil Effluent Irrigation on Germination, Growth and Yield of Talinum fruticosum (Talinaceae)

The increase in food production has been a major concern to developing countries. Due to the high demand for certain crops especially vegetables, farmers resort to the use of wastewater to cultivate these crops during the dry season. This research work aimed to investigate the effects of industrial coconut oil effluent (ICE) on the germination, growth and yield of Talinum fruticosum (water leaf). The physicochemical composition of the effluent was determined using standard analytical methods. Germination and vegetative growth (the plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and fresh weight) were studied on T. fruticosum. The plants were subjected to irrigation with 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100% and 0% (control) concentrations of ICE. The experiment on the vegetative growth studies was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The data were collected every two weeks, subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were compared by using Duncan’s new multiple range test (DNMRT) at P < 0.05. The results of physicochemical analysis of ICE showed that most parameters were above FEPA standard limits except lead. Results from germination and vegetative studies revealed that mean values from treatment 0% (control) were significantly higher at P<0.05 and that the germination of seeds and seedling growth gradually declined as the concentration of effluent increased. Therefore, adequate dilution of the effluent is required before disposal and reuse of ICE for irrigation purposes.