Studying the Physico-edaphic and Hydraulic Conductivity of Phytoremediated Spent Oil Polluted Habitat

Abstract

Several studies have recorded effect of spent lubricant oil pollution on soil properties. This study aims at evaluating the ecology of waste oil pollution and the impact of phytoremediation on soil hydraulic conductivity vis-à-vis some edaphic properties using three leguminous plants; with the objectives of performing field and laboratory study of such contamination and impact of phytoremediation on such properties as soil texture and structure, particle density, bulk density, porosity, organic matter content and total hydrocarbon content and hydraulic conductivity. Using classical and conventional methods to assess the performance of these plant species, result showed a trajectory influence across pollution levels on the soil edaphic properties culminating to decrease in hydraulic conductivity. With the impact of phytoapplication P. pterocarpum had greater particle size (87.73%) of sand, particle density of 2.61 g/cm3 with significant difference (P=0.05) than C. retusa and L. leucocephala treated soils. A significantly (P=0.05) lower bulk density (0.83 g/cm3), increased porosity (68%) and reduced organic matter content (2.65%) were recorded in P. pterocarpum treated soil. Total hydrocarbon reduction (1.8 mg/g) content and its equivalent potency of greater removal and reduction (0.43 mg/g), high efficiency of 55% and 34.40 bioaccumulation quotient and a lower crusting hazard (24.63%) of sealing with increased hydraulic conductivity (5.73 ml/s) were recorded in P. pterocarpum treated soil. By the foregoing potency P. pterocarpum could be suggested as a good biological measure in integrated environmental remediation programmes.