An investigation on the effect of landfill leachate on the growth response of colocasia esculenta plants: the case of Vingunguti dump site, Dar es Salam city

Landfill Leachate normally is harmful to environment. C esculenta plant, with rapid growth and survives in west environment was expected to decontaminate leachate on landfill sites. The complete randomized experimental design was used with single and continuous dose of leachate with five treatments replicated in four and three plots; respectively.C.esculenta was irrigated with various concentration of leachate. Most plant died in high concentration of leachate of 50% and above. The plants also become stressed and injured to varying degrees at different concentrations, i.e the toxicity effect was high on continuous than single dose at higher leachate concentrations. Biomass data was not statistically significant in both single and continous dose (p=0.32 and 0.68 respectively). Leaf area in single & continuous dose, salinity in single dose and electriconductivity in sediment from continuous dose were very significant difference in leaf numbers in single and continuous dose (p=0.032 and p,0.0001 respectively), petiole length and number (p,0.0001) and salinity in continuous dose (p-0.0001 and p-0.0010 respectively). The death of C. esculenta was probably due to physic-chemical parameters of Vingunguti dump leachate that exceeded the levels for plant growth. Despite these results, the plan can be used for phytoremetiation in same or other dumps since landfill leachates differ from one dump site to another and with time. Longterm research should be carried out to study how remediation of landfill can be done in the most effective and environmentally friendly way.