Motor Oil to Fertilize Lawns
Motor oil should never be used to fertilize lawns. It is toxic to plants, wildlife and humans. Motor oil applied to lawns can migrate into ground and surface water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it only takes 1 gallon of motor oil to contaminate up to 1 million gallons of drinking water. Does this Spark an idea?
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Toxins
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Motor oil contains high concentrations of aliphatics, PAH's, and other organic compounds that act as poisons to lawn grass. Furthermore, oil contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and zinc that contribute to its toxicity.
Effects on Lawns
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A study done at Texas A & M University showed that grass began to leaf roll 16 hours after applying motor oil. After 20 hours the grass started browning and after 48 hours half the grass was dead. This was due to toxicity and the lack of photosynthesis caused by the coating of motor oil.
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Effects on Soil
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Applying motor oil changes the chemical, physical and biological properties of soil. These properties can affect plant growth since plants derive their nutrients from soil. The University of Benin in Nigeria concluded that the heavy metals released from motor oil stay in the soil and it may become unsuitable for grass for months to even years until the oil is degraded.
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References
- EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Developing a Used Oil Recycling Program
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.,Environmental Engineering Science: Phytoremediation of Soil Contamination with Used Motor Oil
- Docstoc.com: Effects and Treatments of Petroleum Spills on Bermuda Turf
- "The Effects of Spent Oil on Soil Properties and Growth of Maize". Okonokhua, B.O. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. September, 2007
Resources
- Photo Credit Grass image by Marianna Poloskei from Fotolia.com
