Effect of Cassava Waste Water Effluent on Growth of Zea Mays (Maize) Seedlings

Abstract

                 Nigeria, the world’s largest producer of cassava, very unfortunately, has consistently generated so much waste from cassava mills which are usually discharged on land or water indiscriminately and this in turn, affects the biota, as well as resulting in environmental pollution, which can also inhibits the growth of vegetations and thus, reduces the entire fertility of the soil. This study was aimed at analyzing the effect of cassava processing effluent on seedling height, biomass, chlorophyll and protein content of maize (Zea mays) plants. The physiochemical properties of cassava wastewater showed that it contained some heavy metals and highly acidic. The inhibitory effect of cassava effluent on the germination and growth of Zea mays was shown, whereby the height, biomass, chlorophyll and protein content were 7cm, 7.81, 6.4 and 1.34 compared to the control that were 15cm, 11.55, 7.93 and 2.46 respectively. The study clearly  concluded that cassava effluent is toxic and is detrimental to crop and food-production economy. Further development of microbial processes that is efficient in extreme environmental conditions and contaminant toxicity, is required to reduce cyanide and other heavy metal pollution. Thus, this biological method, which is efficient, cost-effective and environmentally acceptable, is desired to degrade cyanide and other heavy metal pollution.