Physico-chemical Analysis of an Ultisol Polluted with Different Petroleum Products Treated with Poultry Droppings and Planted with Maize in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Physicochemical analyses were carried out on an ultisol previously polluted with different petroleum products and later treated with poultry droppings than planted with poultry droppings then planted with maize in the
Teaching and research Farm of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City Nigeria. Physicochemical analysis was done on the soil before application different petroleum products (AGO-Automatic gas oil; PMS-Premium motor
spirit; DPK-Domestic petroleum kerosene) to the soil. Results showed that the applied products probably contributed to decrease in physicochemical properties of the ultisol when compared to their values before application. Plots applied with AGO had the lowest values followed by PMS and DPK, indicating that AGO might have produced the most degrading effect on the soil. Application of poultry droppings encouraged increased values in physicochemical properties of the soil in all the soils previously applied with petroleum products. This was confirmed when these values were compared with those of the polluted soil and those obtained before pollution. The findings showed that poultry droppings probably encouraged the highest values in soils applied with DPK followed by PMS and AGO respectively. Maize growth estimated in terms of plant height and biomass was highest in bioremediated plots when compared to plants in the control plots.

Keywords: Physicochemical , Ultisol, Pollution, Petroleum Products, Poultry Droppings, Maize, Nigeria.