Remediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil with Inorganic and Organic Fertilizer Using Sweet Potato as a Test Crop

Abstract

Experiment was conducted in Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma to remediate crude oil contaminated soil with organic and inorganic fertilizers. Thirty six pots were filled with 5 kg surface soils (0-15cm).The soils were contaminated with 300 ml crude oil and amended with six rates of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer mixture. Potato vine with 2 nodes was planted in each pot. The pots were laid out using completely randomized design replicated thrice. Results showed that application of 6 t pm/ha + 400 kg NPK/ha and 4 t pm/ha + 200 kg NPK/ha reduced soil THC from 300 mg/kg to 39.08 and 70.00 mg/kg i.e. net remediation of 86.97 and 76.42 % respectively. Inorganic and organic fertilizer mixtures are effective in the restoration of crude oil contaminated soils.

Keywords: contamination, crude oil, NPK fertilizer, poultry manure, remediation, sweet potato.