THEINFLUENCE OF OIL ON SEED GERMINATION AND GROWTH PATTERNS OF TIMOTHY GRASS (PHLEUM PRATENSE L.)

Abstract

The paper provides evidence for the significant influence of soils contamination by petroleum products (engine oil waste and diesel fuel) on timothy grass (the variety Mechta), namely on the speed of seeds germination and the dynamics of plant height at different phases of development. In the control variant (without soil contamination) and in the case of minimal concentration (1 %) of engine oil waste the shoots appeared on day 7, but in the other cases – on days 12 – 14. With increasing the concentrations of pollutants the number of germinating seeds reduced dramatically (by 86.8 – 98.8 %). In case of 5 % concentration total inhibition occurred.

Keywords

• timothy, height of plants, seedlings, oil, engine oil, diesel fuel resistance