Growth and Biochemical performance of Cassava-Manihot <i>esculenta</i> Crantz to Crude oil Polluted soil amended with <i>Centrosema pubescens</i> Benth and NPK

Abstract

Growth and biochemical performance of Manihot esculenta Crantz (TMS 0505) amended with Centrosema pubescens and NPK fertilizer were carried out. Contamination levels of 2%, 4%, and 6% were used while amelioration treatments C. pubescens and NPK 15:15:15 were carried out by adding organic supplement (decomposed Centrosema pubescens) and NPK at the rate of 0.25Kg per 5Kg of soil to the various levels of crude oil contaminated soil, alongside a control treatment. Results showed that addition of Centrosema pubescens and NPK to the crude oil polluted soil improved the growth and biochemical performance of cassava. For the qualitative observations tested, the amelioration treatment recorded significant (P=0.05) increase in plant height, petiole length, leaf number, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight and moisture content, than those of the contamination treatment. Soil physico-chemical analysis such as Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Organic Matter (TOM), pH, available phosphorus, Total Nitrogen and heavy metals analysis were determined in the soil before and after pollution and after amelioration. There were significant (P=0.05) increases in plant height, leaf number, leaf area, dry weight, fresh weight and total Chlorophyll contents in soils amended with both C. pubescens and NPK fertilizer than those containing single amendment (C. pubescens or NPK fertilizer). Therefore, this study suggests that Centrosema pubescens and NPK in combination proved effective in remediation of the growth components of Manihot esculenta in crude oil contaminated soil. ©JASEM

Key words: Growth, Manihot esculenta, crude oil, pollution, Amelioration