Effect of automobile polluted soil on early seedling growth performance of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)

Shagufta Parveen , Muhammad Zafar Iqbal , Muhammad Shafiq , Mohammad Athar

Abstract

Effect of automobile polluted soil with five soil concentration (0 (Control), 25, 50, 75 and 100%) was observed on early seedling growth performance and biomass production of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). The treatment of 75% automobile polluted soil significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the seedling length (18.60 cm) of A. indica. The automobile polluted soil treatment with the concentration of 50% slightly increased the root length as compared to control. The automobile polluted soil treatment with the concentration of 25, 50, 75 and 100% negatively affected shoot length of A. indica as compared to control. The treatment of all concentration of automobile polluted soil progressively decreased the total leaf area A. indica as compared to control soil treatment. The automobile polluted soils also showed negative effects on biomass production of A. indica. The automobile polluted soil treatment at 25% concentration significantly (p < 0.05) affected shoot, leaves and seedling dry weight of A. indica as compared to control soil treatment. The order of relationship between production of A. indica's seedling dry weight and automobile polluted soil treatment was observed as root > shoot > leaves > total seedling.

Key Words

automobiles; polluted soil; neem; seedling growth; biomass production

Address

(1) Shagufta Parveen, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and Muhammad Shafiq — Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan
(2) Mohammad Athar — California Department of Food and Agriculture, 3288 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832, USA.

PDF Viewer

Preview uses the same access rules as Full Text PDF (subscription, purchase, or open access).

← Back to Volume 3, No. 1