Index

• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusions
• References

Abstract

The knowledge about the ecology and relationship among plant-soil is required to increase the vegetation cover around the industrial units. However, no information is available about this aspect on seedling growth performance of commercially important timber tree, B. ceiba. This study was designed with the purpose to record the effects of soil of different industrial areas on seedling growth performances of B. ceiba in pot culture. The comparison of the results showed variable effects on plant height, cover, leaf size, seedling dry and fresh weight of B. ceiba raised in different industrial soil variably affected due to industrial activities. The assessment with the treatment of soils of Universal Chemicals showed maximum reduction in plant height and leaf area of B. ceiba. The treatment of National Foods Ltd. soil positively increased the growth for B. ceiba, as it may contain more nutrient supply required for proper growth of B. Ceiba.  It was concluded that the soil of Universal Chemicals factory was found less favorable for growth variables of B. ceiba. The findings suggests that the plantation of B. ceiba around the industrial units would be helpful in increasing the vegetation cover.

Keywords: Bombax ceiba L, Industrial pollutants, Red silk cotton tree, Seedling dry weight, Seedling growth, Soil.

Received: 6 October 2022 / Revised: 9 December 2022 / Accepted: 23 December 2022 / Published: 10 January 2023

Contribution/ Originality

Industrial activities polluting the immediate environment. In recent years the indiscriminate discharge of different types of pollutant from industrial units are deteriorating the quality of soil and affecting plant growth. The pollutants from industrial activities accumulating in soil of the area and playing an important role in changing the soil properties and plant growth.

1. INTRODUCTION

Bombax ceiba L. (Bombacaceae) is an attractive promising tree and known as cotton or sumbal. It is found in tropical, subtropical and many countries, Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia including Pakistan. The wood is famous for furniture and silky cotton is for mattresses, seed oil, ethanol, quilts and splints [1-5] and stem bark have seven aromatic compounds likewise simalin and B, shamiminol [6]. Its branches (4-5 in each) are found in whorls [7]  and used in match box and plywood industry which make it an industrial crop. B. ceiba is used for treatment of cough [8] and as traditional medicine in Asin countries [9]. B. ceiba is reported to grow on dry and moist soil [10].  B. ceiba is also considered a suitable species for municipal greening and minimizing the determinately effect of air pollution [11-13]. B. ceiba can grow in harsh climatic conditions i.e. in dry valleys or used as fuel [14, 15]. The soil provides nutrients and water for the maintenance of plant life [16]. The studies of plant and soil interactions play key role for restoration ecology and plant growth. The interaction of soil and plant can play a major tool for the growth of invasive species and varies from place to place according to prevailing climatic conditions [17, 18]. B. ceiba is a common deciduous tree and indigenous to Pakistan and found in Punjab and Sindh [19, 20]. Many studies have been founded on plant soil relation and influence on seedling growth. The literature on the soil plant relationship for B. ceiba in Pakistan is not available.  The study aims to experimentally to find out the role of industrial area soil on seedling of and economically and ecologically important multipurpose fast growing tree species, B. ceiba.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

This experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Department of Botany, University of Karachi's Pakistan. The composite soil samples were taken from 30 cm depth from five location of A = Karachi University Campus; B = Indus Battery factory; C = Universal Chemicals Factory; D = Haroon Textile Factory and E = National Foods Limited for testing the seedling growth performances experiments. 

2.1. Seedling Growth Experimental Design

The seeds of B. ceiba were collected from this species growing in University Campus and sown in a garden soil at 1.00 cm depth in earthen pots. The germinated seedlings of same size were transferred to plastic pots of 20 cm in diameter and 9.8 cm in depth. One seedling was planted in each pot for different soil treatment and the plants were watered regularly. Every week the rearrangement of pots was changed to prevent any chance of greenhouse effects. The experiment was completely randomized with five replicates for each soil treatment.

2.2. Measurements / Reading of Seedling Growth Characteristics

The seedling growth parameters in term of root, shoot, leaves number, plant cover was recorded at the end of experiment. The treated seedlings were removed carefully from the pots. The harvested seedlings were washed with tap water to remove soil particles. The seedlings were dried in an oven at for 24 hours at 80 °C for the determination of their seedling dried weights.

The seedling growth data were statistically analyzed with one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) by SPSS version 13.0 software. Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to assess the level of significance differences within each experimental treatments at p<0.05 level and analysis of correlation among growth with soil worked out.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The application of different industrial soil types T1-T5 showed variable response to seedling growth and seedling dry weight of B. ceiba shown in Table 1 and Table 2 and Figure 1 and Figure 2. The seedling height, number of leaves and seedling dry weight performance of B. ceiba was found highest and best out come in soil treatment T5 with comparison to treatments of control T1 as compared to other area soil.

For the different soil treatments T3 soil generally showed a highly significant reduction in seedling dry weight of B. ceiba and threatened growth performance with relative to control Table 1. Industrial activities have strong environmental impact on germination and plant growth. The obtained results demonstrated a different resistance to some growth characteristics of B. ceiba in soils of different industrial areare. A higher value in number of leaves of B. ceiba was exhibited with the T5 treatment soil. Previously studies illustrated that the industrially polluted soil of mining area influenced on needles and tree ring of pine [21].   

This study successfully approach and provides the beneficial improvement and hazardous role of B. ceiba seedlings raised in industrial area. Additionally, the data reflects clearly the changing and noticeable behavior of different soil treatment before and after harvest to seedling growth of B. ceiba is shown in Figure 1. The seedling growth parameters were periodically increased prominently in soil of T5 and decreased in T2 and T1 soil Figure 2.

The distribution of plant species in desert environments depends on physical environmental variables [22] and influenced by underling factors [23, 24]. In parallel the abiotic stress might have strong effect on seedling of B. ceiba. Concerning the soil influence in different treatment, the increase or decrease in different seedling growth and seedling dry weight parameters of B. ceiba indicated that the physico-chemical properties of soil affected growth variables. Different growth parameters may be correlated with different physico-chemical properties of soil. The proper and balance supply of nutrient is a basic requirement for plant growth. B. ceiba seedlings grew better in soil of National Foods Ltd., Factory due to better physical soil conditions, bulk density and soil porosity Table 2.  Eco physiological response of B. ceiba to fine particle of dust pollution recorded [25]. B. ceiba seedlings prefer noticeably to grow with less moisture content and total porosity. The present findings confirmed that the availability of nutrients, industrial activities and underlying environmental factor significantly influenced seedling growth performance of B. ceiba. Soil characteristics favor or inhibit growth and development of plant. Industrial activities can lead to accumulation of heavy metals and soil vulnerability in the environment [26-30].

The physico-chemical role of soil with growth of B. ceiba. These properties determine the suitable response on plant growth. There was a significant changes on plant growth in different soil of industrial area recorded. Correlation in different growth parameters and physico-chemical properties of soil revealed in that maximum water holding capacity was not correlated with any growth variables while bulk density and porosity showed correlation with number of leaves at significant level (p<0.01). However, soil texture was correlated with growth variables of B. ceiba at significant level (p<0.01). Whereas, fine soil particles showed negative correlation at the same significance level of (p<0.01). In chemical properties of soil CaCO3, chlorides and organic matter did not show any significant (p<0.01) correlation root and shoot growth. While, pH and sodium were significantly (p<0.01) correlated with growth variables. Seedling size of B. ceiba were reduced in soil of Universal Chemical factory. Low pH and organic matter may be responsible for reduced growth of species.

The Pearson’s correlation coefficient between growth and soil physical and chemical characteristics showed critically significant negative correlation Table 2. The importance of soil pH taking into account showed a significantly positive correlation matrix with all the seedlings variable. The seedlings of B. ceiba responded differently in soil of industrial site areas. Therefore, further studies on other native plant species is required on this issue.

4. CONCLUSIONS

Various kinds of industrial activities in Karachi are playing a critical role in economy and also influencing on local environment and quality of soil. The present study described that the treatment of soils of Universal Chemicals significantly (p<0.05) reduced the seedling biomass of B. ceiba. The soil of National Foods Ltd. significantly increased the seedling growth of B. ceiba, as it may able to tolerate the prevailing edaphic conditions and can be planted around such types of industries. B. ceiba might be consider a suitable for afforestation of new ground to increase and improvement of forest areas in Pakistan.

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