Abstract:
The effect of heptachlor and endosulfan sulfate co-contaminated soil on seedling growth of Cucurbitaceae and Brassicaceae plants. Heptachlor and endosulfan sulfate were spiked into soil as ratio 1:1 at total concentration ranging from 0.4-4 mg/kg dried soil. Three plants, Brassica pekinensis, Cucurbita moschata and cucumber were planted in spiked soil compared with non contaminated soil. After 10 days, percentage of germination, shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight of seedling were measured. The result shown that heptachlor and endosulfan sulfate co-contaminated soil (ratio 1:1) were not toxic to germination of all plant but the effect on shoot and root length depended on plant species. Shoot length of C. moschataand cucumber were decreased when concentrations of contaminants were higher but shoot length of B. pekinensis was not significantly different. For the effect on root length, root length of C. moschata was not significantly different with contrast with root length of cucumber and B. pekinensis. The contaminants did not affect to fresh and dry weight of all plant which shown that there were no effect on these plant growth. All plants tested in this experiment could grow in soil contaminated with heptachlor and endosulfan sulfate at this concentration.