Impact of Diesel-Contaminated Soil on the Growth of Phaseolus vulgaris as a Test Crop

Background and Objective: The proliferation of diesel contamination in soils is increasing at an alarming rate, posing threats to crop productivity. This study examined the effect of diesel-simulated polluted soil on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Materials and Methods: Thirty polythene pots, each containing 5 kg of surface soil, were arranged in a factorial combination of five treatment levels of diesel contamination (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g w/w), designated as P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5, respectively. Three seeds of P. vulgaris were sown per pot. Growth parameters, including plant height, leaf count, shoot length, root length, and biomass (fresh and dry weights of root and shoot), were measured 4 weeks after emergence (WAE). Experiments were conducted in triplicate (n = 3), results reported as Mean±SE, and analyzed using SPSS 16.0 with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at p<0.05. Results: Plants grown on highly contaminated soils (P5) exhibited reduced growth, with measurements of plant height (11.7 cm), leaf count (7.0), root length (0.5 cm), and shoot length (11.2 cm), which were lower than all other treatments. Biomass parameters followed the same decreasing trend with increasing diesel concentration. Significant differences were observed among treatments (P = 0.005). Conclusion: The poor performance of P. vulgaris on diesel-contaminated soils may be attributed to restricted water uptake by roots. The control treatment (P1) showed the best growth. These findings highlight the need for careful diesel handling and prompt spill management, as diesel-impacted soils can reduce agricultural productivity, potentially affecting food security and national income.