World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
Abstract
The effect of crude oil contaminated soil on the growth of seashore
Paspalum ( Paspalum vaginatum ) seedlings was investigated. Plants
were grown in soil containing different concentrations: 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%,
2.0% and 3% (w/w) of Abura crude petroleum oil. Growth parameter such
as shoot number, shoot length, leaf area and biomass accumulation were
evaluated. The results showed that crude oil imposed physiological
stress in the seedlings. There was a dose response decline in all the
growth attributes examined. There was also a significant difference in
plant growth with respect to time of crude oil application. At the
highest applied concentration(3 % [w/w]), plants grown in soil
previously contaminated with petroleum oil showed about 50 % reduction
in biomass accumulation when compared with the uncontaminated control
whereas established plants post -treated with crude petroleum oil
showed a 30% reduction. There was no mortality at any of the crude oil
concentrations to which to plant was exposed. The experiment
demonstrated the potential of using Paspalum vaginatum for
phytoremediation