MORPHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF POLLUTANTS FROM DETERGENTS ON LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa L.) GROWN IN WATER CULTURED AND SOIL MEDIA

Greywater released into the environment impacts aquatic organisms and the entire ecosystem due to their intricate network of interdependence and interactions. This study endeavours to determine the effects of two powdered detergents at different concentrations on the agronomic features of lettuce cultivated in soil and water culture media. Different concentrations of detergents have varying effects on the agronomic features of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants in both hydroponics and soil systems. The concentrations used the experiment were 0.03%, 0.05% and 0.1% of the two powdered laundry detergents, namely detergent A and detergent B. The root length, leaf length and number of leaves were recorded every two days during a four- week period. After harvest, the fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots of each plant were recorded. The growth of lettuce plants in the wet system of hydroponics was more negatively affected compared to those grown in soil with >50% more leaves and > 50% longer roots. Lettuce plants respond differently to detergents A and B, detergent B negatively affected plant growth while detergent A positively influenced growth. With increasing detergent concentrations, it was found that the agronomic parameters displayed a decline in the soil medium and an increase in the wet hydroponic system. However, based on the survival rate, hydroponically-grown lettuce plants succumbed more to the effects of pollutants in the detergent at higher concentrations when compared to plants grown in soil.