The effect of cassava processing wastewater from four hybrid varieties of cassava (TMS 92/0057, NR 8082, TMS 92/0326 and TMS 30572), on the germination and early seedling growth of maize was studied in the laboratory. The physicochemical properties of the effluents and elements were analyzed using standard methods. The wastewater from these cassava varieties were highly acidic 4.0, 4.0, 4.10 and 4.20 in contrast to WHO allowable limit of 6.5-8.5 had a low BOD ranging from 1.6 -2.45, while their HCN ranged from 12.96 -16.86 mg/lwhich was observed to be very high as against FAO/WHO admissible maximum limit of less than 10mg/kg. The germination percentage, growth parameters and biomass were significantly (P= 0.05) reduced with increase in the acidic level of the effluents. Higher concentrations of the wastewater were inhibitory to the germination and early seedling growth of maize. The waste water from the four hybrid varieties of cassava increased the level of trace metal elements in Zea mays. Hybrid TMS 92/0326 was less toxic and is recommended to farmers. This study suggests that higher concentrations of cassava processing effluent could be detrimental to the germination and early seedling growth of Zea mays.

Field experiments were conducted in 2016 and repeated in 2017 to evaluate the effectiveness of Oil Palm Bunch Ash (OPBA) and Dried Poultry manure (DPM) as organic supplement, applied singly and in combination on growth properties and heavy metal uptake of cassava cultivars grown in crude-oil contaminated soil of the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. There were four different organic amendments viz: DPM, OPBA, OPBA +DPM and control using TMS 30572, NR8082 and local variety as test crops. Results were elaborated statistically with the use of three-by-four factor variance analysis with ANOVA. Effect of various application of amendment on morphometric parameters of cultivars revealed in 2017 that at 36 weeks after sprouting (WAS), DPM and OPBA +DPM significantly (P≤ 0.05) enhanced plant heights of TMS 3572 and LV but had no influence on number of nodes, stem girth and leaf area. However, the interactions resulted in significant (P≤ 0.05) uptake and concentration of the heavy metals Fe, Cu, and Pb in leaves and Fe in roots ofTMS30572 and NR8082, indicating efficient metal removal by these varieties. Results of amendment also revealed remarkable increment in bacterial and fungal (from 104 to 106 and 103 to 104 ) populations respectively, correlating with reduction in soil total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) from 156.45 mg/kg to 146.73 mg/Kg. This is observed to diminish oil toxicity and improve soil status. The response of these cassava varieties to crude oil contamination appears to be optimistic. Consequently crop farmers are adviced against planting cassava and other arable crop at crude oil impacted soil for the risk of uptake of heavy metal in crop tissues. Keywords: Remediation, Heavy metal, Oil-contaminated soil, Organic amendment, Growth properties, Cassava

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Aim: Amelioration effect of soil amendment on growth and yield of Vigna unguiculata L. grown in acidic and alkaline soils. Study Design: The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Botany, University of Calabar, Nigeria, between May and September, 2017. Methodology: Composite soils from two locations Akamkpa (pH 4.0) and Odukpani (pH 9.0) were collected, mixed thoroughly with organic manure (OM) and agricultural lime (AL) singly and in combination, allowed to stay three weeks for proper blending before V. unguiculata seeds were sown. On seedlings germination, amelioration effect of soil amendment on growth and yield of cowpea grown in acidic and alkaline soils was studied at different periods of growth. Results: Results revealed significant (P=0.05) increase in leaf area, plant height, number of leaves, leaf fresh and leaf dry weight, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and leaf area ratio of V. unguiculata grown in acidic and alkaline soils treated with OM and AL. Pod length, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, number of seeds plant-1, weight of 100 seeds increased significantly. Organic manure used singly and in combination was more effective in ameliorating soil pH effect than AL. Vigna unguiculata performed better in treated and untreated alkaline than in acidic soils. Least plant height for V. unguiculata grown in untreated alkaline soil at 12 weeks after sowing WAS was 60.22±0.16a cm and highest 119.63E2±.35g cm for plants grown in soil treated with AL1+OM1. Least number of seeds plant-1 for plants grown in untreated acidic soil at 12 WAS was 90.60±0.02a and the highest 139.18E2±0.02e for plants grown in soil treated with AL1+OM1. Conclusion: An improvement in growth and seed yield of V. unguiculata grown in acidic and alkaline soils is feasible through the use of organic manure and agricultural lime.