Main Article Content
Effects of poultry manure and cow dung on the physical and chemical properties of crude oil polluted soil
Abstract
manure and cow dung) and a control (no-treatment) plots constituted the subplots. The entire setup was replicated 3 times. Maize seeds (Oba super) were used as a test crop. Soil collected from the university’s farm site was used to fill the buckets for planting. Thirty-six pieces of 30 cm3 capacity buckets were filled to 2/3 capacities with soil collected from the farm site, and polluted with the crude oil according to the levels. Organic manure was applied at 14days after pollution while the maize seeds were planted at 28days after pollution. Soil samples were collected at three intervals first, before pollution, secondly 14 days after pollution and then 14 days after manure application for physical and chemical analysis of the soil. At two weeks after germination, the germination percentage and plant height were determined while cob length, number of seeds per cob were determined at maturity (90 days after planting). Results revealed that crude oil pollution significantly affected the soil physical and chemical properties and also impaired maize plant growth. At increased level of pollution (300 ml), the soil chemical and physical properties were severely degraded, however, the application of poultry and cow dung manures significantly repaired the degraded soil. The results also revealed that poultry manure showed superiority over cow dung in amending crude oil degraded soil. Soil pollution also impaired the maize seed germination and growth. At 300 ml, crude oil pollution the lowest (58.50 %) germination percentage was recorded, but with application of poultry manure germination percentage was 100 %. It was recommended that poultry manure be employed in the amendment of crude oil polluted soils.
Key words: Effect, physical, chemical, properties, cow dung, poultry manure, and maize.