Abstract

This study compared the effects of Arachis hypogaea and Sorghum bicolor on the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content, pH, moisture content, total organic matter, total organic carbon, total nitrogen and available chloride, sulphate and phosphorus ions of crude oil contaminated soil. Pot experiments were conducted in which A. hypogaea and S. bicolor were grown in soil artificially contaminated with different concentrations of crude oil (0%, 1%, 2%, 3% w/w). All treatments were replicated three times. The soil parameters were determined by following standard methods while the TPH and hydrocarbon fractions were determined using the Gas chromatography techniques. The result showed that during the period of study the pH of the soil increased significantly (P≤0.05) in this order; soil without plant > soil with S. bicolor> soil with A. hypogaea in all crude oil contaminations except in 2%. All other soil properties including the TPH content significantly reduced (P≤0.05) in the same order in all crude oil contamination levels. The lower TPH content of soil with A. hypogaea observed in this study suggests that its growth has improved soil dynamics and working capacity than S. bicolor. This may be a pointer that A. hypogaea will do better than S. bicolor in reclamation of crude oil contaminated soil.

Key Words: Crude oil, contamination, reclamation, Arachis hypogaea, Sorghum bicolor

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