Francis Nosa ASEMOTA

The release of hydrocarbons into the environment whether accidentally or through human activities is a main cause of water and soil pollution. This study investigated the effect of crude oil contamination and fertilizer treatment on soil physicochemical properties. Unpolluted soil samples obtained from the bed of Ovia River, Benin City, Nigeria, were contaminated with crude oil, and thereafter remediated with NPK/urea fertilizer. A range of physicochemical parameters were measured in both soil samples.

Bioremediation, an affordable and environmentally friendly technique, remains a viable strategy for tackling water and soil pollution. This study investigated microbial activities in crude oil-contaminated soils amended with fertilizer. Unpolluted soil samples obtained from the bed of Ovia River, Benin City, Nigeria, were contaminated with crude oil, and thereafter remediated with NPK/urea fertilizer. Textural classification of the soils showed that the clay soil contained 77 % clay, while that of the sandy-clay soil was 72 %.