Title:
REMEDIATION OF PETROLEUM IMPACTED FARMLAND USING BLENDED BIO-STIMULATORS AND AUGUMENTATORS (BIOFERTILIZER)

Authors:
Ezeani, E.U., Ngobiri, N., Nigeria

Abstract:

The study investigated the impact of blended fermented melon pulp and chicken manure (Biofertilizer) in remediation of gasoline polluted farmland at Umuimo municipality, in Osisioma  Local Government Area of Abia, Nigeria. The impacted farmland has no vegetation growth on it compared to areas around it that was not impacted, it indicates low plant nutrients. The investigation is to reinstate the plant nutrients by using bio stimulators and augumentators sourced locally.  Pulverized fermented melon pulp and chicken manure were blended at 1:1 ratio. The gasoline polluted soil was mixed with the blended sample at 10:1, 5:1 and 3:1 ratios. The physiochemical and microbial properties were determined at interval of 15 space days. The control sample's physicochemical average results were:  Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) 0.08mg/kg, Potassium (K) 10.89mg/kg, Nitrogen (N) 1.56mg/kg, Phosphorous (P) 4.3mg/l, pH 5.8 whereas the  polluted farmland were: TPH 216.28mg/kg, K 5.74mg/kg, N 0.65mg/kg, P 1.86mg/kg, pH 6.2. Microorganisms determined the control sample were Bacteria: Bacillus sp, Corynbacterium sp, Micrococcus; Fungi: Aspergillus, Mucor sp, Staphyloccus sp, Rhizopus sp whereas the microorganism in the polluted soil sample were Bacteria:  Bacillus subtilus, Micrococcus, Corynbacterium, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Spirillum; Fungi: Fusarium sp, Rhizopus sp, Asperigillus sp, Fusarium sp, Muco sp, Staphyloccus sp.  The microbial count of the polluted soil were - Total heterotrophic bacteria: 2.76 x 105 Colon forming unit per gramme (cfu/g), Total hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria: 2.54 x 105 cfu/g, Total hydrocarbon utilizing fungi: 1.85 x 105cfu/g. The identified microorganism content of the blended sample were Citrobacter sp, Klebsiella sp, Corrynebacterium sp, Bacillus sp, Escherichia sp, Micrococus sp, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces, Cervisae. The identified nutrients were nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous. The remediated soil showed gradual reduction of TPH  as days increased, the concentrations of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and potassium decreased within the first 15 days and later increased within the remaining 15 space days. The outcome of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) confirmed huge variation between polluted and remediated soils. SPSS indicated that the outcome of different blends varied but was not pronounced.