Soil Nutrients Variation During Phytoremediation of Crude oil Polluted Soil Using Mariscus alternifolius and Fimbristylis ferruginea

摘要

Background and Objective: Crude oil pollution affects the soil nutrients availability and the ecological unit of the soil through surface assimilation and adsorption of soil particle. The excess carbon introduced into the soil could result in constraints in soil nutrients. This study was carried out to investigate the alteration of nutrients during phytoremediation of crude oil polluted soil using Mariscus alternifolius Vahl. and Fimbristylis ferruginea . Materials and Methods: The crude oil polluted soil was collected from agricultural farmland located in Ogoniland, Nigeria while the unpolluted soil was collected from the premise of agricultural farmland in the University of Port Harcourt. Mature and viable seeds of M. alternifolius and F. ferruginea were collected from wild. The effect of M. alternifolius and F. ferruginea on different soil nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, total nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, sulphur and moisture content were studied. The pot experimental study was carried out for 12 weeks spanning from September-December, 2017. Standard protocols were adopted for both the field and laboratory procedures. Results: After 12 weeks of remediation, significant reductions in calcium, magnesium, total nitrogen and potassium levels were observed in the vegetated soils. However, phosphorus, sulphur and moisture contents of the vegetated soils significantly increased. Such an increase as recorded in the moisture content of the soils was typical for any biodegradation process. Conclusion: It is, therefore, worthy to note that certain soil nutrients could diminish following phytoremediation of crude oil polluted soils.