Periodic Effects of Crude Oil Pollution on Some Nutrient Elements of Soils Treated Over a 90 Day Period Using Schwenkia Americana L. and Spermacoce ocymoides Burm. f.

Abstract

Crude oil contamination of the environment awfully impede soil ecosystem, through adsorption and surface assimilation of soil particles, contributing to excess carbon which might be unfeasible for use by the microbial populace, thereby bringing about constraints in soil nutrients. This study investigated the effects on some soil nutrient elements brought about by crude oil contamination. Laboratory analyses were carried out using standard methods. When compared to the values before planting, results obtained within the 90 days planting, revealed a significant decrease in the treated soils’ exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents whereas a significant increase was recorded in the sulfur content. This indicates a deficiency of these nutrients in soils phyto-remediated over a 90 day period, and as such imperative for such soils to be augmented with nutrients before use for agricultural and other related purposes.