Potential of Chicken Dropping and Empty Oil Palm Fruit Bunch as Amendment for Bioremediation of Diesel-Contaminated Soil at Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Diesel pollution in soil poses significant environmental and health risks. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to investigate the potential of chicken dropping (CD) and empty oil palm fruit bunch (EPFB) as an amendment for bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soil at Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria using standard methods. Results obtained for physicochemical parameters show that: pH (9.6) for chicken dropping,(10.24) for empty oil palm fruit bunch and (9.3) for uncontaminated soil); electrical conductivity (CD-6910mS/m, EPFB-3710mS/m and for uncontaminated soil (US)-98mS/m; Phosphorous (CD-35.033mg/Kg, EPFB-Nil, US-23.037) sulphate (CD-50,699mg/Kg, EPFB-Nil, US-9.469) nitrate(CD-2.973 and EPFB-0.477-0.117mg/Kg5, and US-0.477mg/Kg) PALs and TPH (CD-.CD-2.973mg/Kg and 12.644mg/Kg, EPFB-Nil, US- <0.001mg/Kg and <0.001m/Kg), THB and HUB (CD-3.9 x 105 CFU/g and 7.5 x 105 CFU/g, EPFB- 2.25 x 105 CFU/g and Nil, US- 2.65 x 105 CFU/g and 3.0 x 105 CFU/g). Remediation data reveals a significant difference between the amendments (treatments), it was observed that the chicken droppers better remediates diesel-contaminated soils. However, environmental agencies and oil industries should consider using chicken dropping and empty oil palm fruit bunch which are agricultural waste products for the bioremediation of diesel or hydrocarbon-polluted soils.