Abstract
The study assessed the effectiveness of carpet grass (Axonopus compressus) in the phytoremediation management of oil impacted soil in Ubeji and Alesa Eleme communities of Niger Delta region of Nigeria. To achieve this, the study employed an experimental research design that involved the use of Axonopus compressus in the management of oil-impacted soil sites of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. This experiment lasted for four months’ period (one planting season). Axonopus sp. was used for the treatment of the crude oil impacted sites. Laboratory analysis of the soil samples was conducted to determine the effect of phytoremediation on hydrocarbon, acidity, organic matter and moisture loss in oil impacted sites. The study revealed that the use of Axonopus sp. resulted in 66% loss of hydrocarbon from crude oil-impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. However, there is no significant difference in crude oil loss in the soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme as a result of Axonopus sp. This could be ascribed to the similarities in soil properties and climate type of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It also showed that the growth of Axonopus sp. in the crude oil-impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme has reduced the acidity of hydrocarbon content in soils (4.46 - 6.87 pH in Ubeji and 4.66 - 6.86 pH in Alesa Eleme) from the first day to the 90th days of experiment, and thereafter there was stabilization at the 4th month. This indicates that acidity in soil increases (lower pH) with increase in the concentration of crude oil in soils. However, the adoption of Axonopus sp. in hydrocarbon-impacted soils has increased the pH of soils, and enhanced the accumulation of organic matter and moisture content in oil-impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. The implication of the findings is that Axonopus sp. has the tenacity to phytoremediate hydrocarbon concentration in soil effectively in any geographical region of the world; as such, it is recommended for adoption by oil companies, government and non-governmental organization agency for the remediation of oil spill sites.
Highlights
Over the world, about 8.8 million of metric tonnes of crude oil are released into the world water and soil
The study employed an experimental research design which involves the release of crude oil on the soil and the use of carpet grass plant (Axonopus sp.) as phytoremediation method in the management of petroleum impacted soil in Ubeji and Elesa Eleme for four months periods
This loss showed a significant correlation value of 0.98, which is significant at p > 0.05. This showed that phytoremediation has significantly reduced the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon from the impacted soil of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme
Summary
About 8.8 million of metric tonnes of crude oil are released into the world water and soil. 90% is responsible for human activities of oil spillage and deliberate discharge of waste into soil and water bodies [1]. The oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria has been characterized by petroleum exploration, exploitation and production activities and daily predisposed to oil pollution of varying magnitudes. Since commercial exploration of petroleum started in Nigeria in 1958, the land, water bodies and marshes have become heavily polluted due to accumulation from several years of incipient and perceived pollution of the ecosystem. According to UN report, it is believed that an average riverine dweller of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is exposed to polluted air, polluted water and polluted food, resulting in health hazard that reduces life expectancy [2].
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