Full Length Research Paper

Plant species responses to oil degradation and toxicity reduction in soil

U. S. Offor¹, J. A. Onwugbuta-Enyi¹* and L. A. Akonye²

¹Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

²University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: enyijane@yahoo.com. Tel: 08037766427

Accepted 15 July, 2008

A field project located at the Botanical garden of the University of Port Harcourt was designed to evaluate changes in contaminants concentration and toxicity during phytoremediation. Vegetated plots were established by planting different plant species – legumes and vegetable (Abelmoschus, esculentus, Telfaria occidentalis and Vigna unguiculata) and applied with sawdust and chromolaena leaves at different intensities of oil pollution. Toxicity of the soil was evaluated using germination percentage, flowering, fruit set and weight. The reduction of toxicity was more with legume than vegetables. However, total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration was lower by the end of the study in all the soils planted with the crops.

Key words: phytoremediation, soil degradation and restoration.