Studies in the suitability of NPK-15-15-15 fertilizer, animal dung, and petroleum agar as Nutrient Supplements for growth of microorganisms

Abstract

The suitability of three nutrient supplements (NPK-15-15-15 fertilizer, petroleum agar, and animal (cattle) dung) in promoting growth of microorganisms in produced water and crude-oil-contaminated soil are investigated experimentally. The analysis involves monitoring the total microbial count (TMC) in produced water and crude-oil-contaminated soil samples treated with the different nutrient supplements. After a test period of 10 weeks, the TMC in produced water treated with NPK, petroleum agar, and cattle dung was 105 cfu/ml, 103 cfu/ml, and 102 cfu/ml respectively; while the TMC in soil treated with NPK, petroleum agar, and cattle dung was 104 cfu/g, 10 cfu/g, and 102 cfu/g respectively. NPK-15-15-15 fertilizer exhibits the best characteristics as nutrient supplement for the microorganisms in both the produced water and crude-oil-contaminated soil; followed by petroleum agar and then cattle dung for produced water, but followed by cattle dung and then petroleum agar for crude-oil-contaminated soil.

Keywords: NPK fertilizer; Petroleum agar; Cattle dung; Microbes; Nutrient.

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 14 (3) 2008: pp. 285-288