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GROWTH OF LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA (LAM.) DE-WIT IN DIFFERENT SOIL COMPOSITIONS OF KORANGI AND LANDHI INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN

SYED ATIQ-UR-REHMAN¹ AND MUHAMMAD ZAFAR IQBAL²

Abstract: The growth of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de-Wit., were studied in soils collected from four sites viz., Khan Towel, Tanveer Garment, One Tech Rubber and One Tech Ply Board factories in the vicinity of Korangi and Landhi industrial areas under natural environmental conditions. L. leucocephala plants grown in 25, 50 and 75% soils of all of the industries demonstrated reductions in many of the growth parameters as compared to plants grown in Garden soil. Principally, 75% Khan Towel factory soil and 50% other factories soils exhibited great inhibition in most of growth characters than Garden soil. Plant cover, leaves and leaflets numbers, leaf area, leaf, total plant dry weights and root/shoot ratio were noticeably suppressed (p<0.05) in 25, 50 and 75% Khan Towel factory soil than Garden soil. Substantial retardation (p<0.05) in root/shoot and leaf weight ratios were recorded in 25, 50 and 75% Tanveer Garment factory soil. 25, 50 and 75% One Tech Rubber and One Tech Ply Board factories soils literally diminished (p<0.05) plant cover and leaf dry weight as compared to Garden soil.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.