IMPACT OF AMENDED CRUDE OIL-POLLUTED SOIL ON THE GROWTH OF SELECTED VEGETABLES

Abstract

This study investigated the growth performance of beans, garden egg, and cucumber cultivated on crude oil-polluted soil amended with Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) leaf litter and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) at Rivers State University Agricultural Farm. A randomized complete block design with 14 treatments and 5 replicates per treatment was used, totaling 70 bags per crop. Crude oil was applied at various concentrations (100–500 ml), followed by soil amendment with either leaf litter or H₂O₂. Planting occurred one month after pollution, and organic/inorganic amendments were reapplied monthly for four months. Key growth parameters—plant height, leaf area, stem girth, and leaf number—were measured at 3-week intervals over 12 weeks. Results showed that leaf litter significantly improved all growth parameters compared to H₂O₂, particularly for beans. Cucumber and garden egg exhibited poor growth across all treatments, with the least performance observed in H₂O₂-amended soils. Both amendment types aided in degrading soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), but leaf litter proved more effective for remediation and promoting plant growth. The study recommends leaf litter as a more sustainable and efficient amendment for reclaiming petroleum-contaminated soils