EFFECTS OF CRUDE OIL ON SOME BACTERIA AND MINERAL CONSTITUENTS OF RHIZOSPHERE OF DELONIX REGIA HOOK

ABSTRACT

Crude oil spill is hazardous to soil and subsequently affects food production. Certain plants however tolerate and/or improve the mineral deficiency imposed by crude oil. Also, due to the ability of bacteria to degrade crude oil, plants that enhance the abundance of soil bacteria under pollution have been under investigation. The effects of crude oil on the bacterial count and mineral constituents of soil rhizosphere of Delonixregia were investigated. The effects of D. regia on total bacterial count and mineral constituents were tested. A total of 96 polythene bags were filled, each with 18 kg of soil. Four soil bags each containing a seedling of D. regia and four without seedlingwere polluted with 30 ml of crude oil. This was repeated using 150 ml and 750 ml of crude oilwhile the control was not polluted. The experiment was set up in 3 replicates in a completely randomized design. After one month, the soil bacterial count and mineral composition were analyzed using standard techniques. Bacterial analysis was repeated after the second and third month of pollution. Some vegetative parameters were taken before and after pollution. The results of the 1^st and 2^nd bacterial counts revealed a significant (P<0 .05="" 150="" 30="" 3="" 750="" a="" and="" bacterial="" but="" compared="" control.="" count="" crude="" decrease="" in="" increase="" ml="" of="" oil="" results="" soil="" soils="" sup="" the="" treated="" with="">rd

count revealed significant (P<0 .05="" bacteria="" compared="" control.="" decrease="" i="" identified="" in="" include="" polluted="" soils="" the="" to="">Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Proteus and Micrococcus species. Bacterial count was slightly higher in unvegetated soil than in the vegetated one. Polluted soil depicted a significant (P<0 .05="" a="" among="" and="" as="" at="" available="" bacterial="" between="" but="" by="" calcium="" capacity="" carbon="" cation="" compared="" concentration="" contents="" control.="" count="" crude="" decrease="" differences="" different="" duration="" exchange="" i="" in="" increase="" influenced="" levels="" magnesium="" matter="" nitrogen="" of="" oil="" organic="" ph="" phosphorus="" pollutant="" potassium="" presence="" reduced="" significance.="" significant="" sodium="" soil.="" soils="" the="" there="" to="" treatments="" unvegetated="" vegetated="" was="" well="" were="">D. regia and some mineral constituents in the soil.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

List of Tables

List of Figures

Abstract

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

1.1       Relevance of Microorganisms in the Soil

1.2       Delonixregia

1.3       Objectives of this research

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Literature Review

2.1       Mineral Composition of Polluted Soil

2.2       Bacterial Characteristics of Polluted Soil

2.3       Effects of Rhizosphere on soil Bacteria

2.4       Phytoremediation

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       Materials and methods

3.1       Collection of Materials

3.2 Breaking of Seed Dormancy

3.3 Experimental Design

3.4 Determination of Mineral Constituents

3.4.1 Carbon and Organic matter

3.4.2 Available phosphorus

3.4.3Soil pH

3.4.4 Total Nitrogen

3.4.5Metal ions and Cation exchange capacity

3.4.5.1 Calcium and magnesium

3.4.5.2 Sodium and Potassium

3.4.5.3 Cation exchange capacity

3.5Bacterial count and identification

3.6       Vegetative Parameters

3.7       Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0       RESULTS

4.1       Breaking of seed dormancy and germination

4.2       Bacterial Enumeration

4.2.1 Effect of D. regia on total viable count of bacteria

4.2.2Variations in the bacterial load with time

4.3 Results of biochemical tests for identification of bacteria

4.4 Isolated bacteria and their diversity at different levels of crude oil contamination

4.5 Mineral elements composition

4.6 Vegetative parameters

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       Discussion

5.1       Bacterial load

5.2Mineral constituents

5.3 Vegetative parameters

5.4 Conclusion

References

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                                               INTRODUCTION

Crude oil is physically, chemically and biologically harmful to soil because it contains many toxic compounds in relatively high concentrations (Franco et al., 2004). Soil contamination can result in soil degradation, bring great loss to agricultural production and pose threat to human health (Lijuan, 2012). Crude oil spill is a common event in Nigeria especially in the Niger Delta areas of the country. Spills may arise from oil well drilling, production operations, transportation, refining, storage and marketing. It could also be from anthropogenic sources such as sabotage or accidental spills such as ruptured oil pipelines (Oberdorster and Cheek, 2000). Presently there are eleven oil corporations operating about 159 oil wells in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Record indicates that the Niger Delta region of Nigeria experiences on the average, 273 oil spills resulting to about 115,000 barrels of crude oil annually from 1983-2005 making the region most vulnerable to oil spill than anywhere in the world (Agbogidi et al., 2009). Some recent oil spill in Nigeria include Assa-Rumekpe pipeline at Elele Alumini in 2014, Amukpe trunk line at Amukpe in 2011, Nkpoku Bomu pipeline at Ekporo in 2014, Nun-river Kolo creek at Oporoma in 2013 (SPDC, 2014). Oil spillage has immense impact on the ecosystem into which it is released. Contamination of soil arising from oil spills is one of the most limiting factors to soil fertility (Onwurah et al., 2007). It affects growth of plants (Nwadinigwe and Onwumere, 2003) and causes great negative impacts on food productivity (Onwurah et al., 2007). The work of Nwadinigwe and Uzodimma (2005) indicated the inhibitory effect of crude oil on the germination, growth and reproductive performance of Arachis hypogaea. Germination, growth and pod production of Glycine max have also been found to be inhibited by crude oil pollution (Nwadinigwe and Onwumere, 2003). Yellowing, dropping of leaves and complete shedding of leaves in areas of heavy pollution have been reported by Opeolu (2000). Environmental cleanup of crude oil can take several years (Short et al., 2002) and problems associated with the study and remediation of the polluted ecosystem can be very expensive. The legal problems related to compensation in terms of assigning monetary reward may bring serious controversy. Nigerian regulation of the oil industry is weak and rarely enforced, allowing in essence the industry to self-regulate. The ecosystem especially the agricultural sectors are very much prone to the adverse effects of oil pollution, since there has been no concerned and effective effort on the part of the government, let alone the oil operators, to control this environmental problem. Yet, there is still an extensive network of pipelines between the fields as well as numerous small networks of flow lines in the oil fields such as in the Niger Delta area, allowing more oil spill (Anderson, 2005).

1.1          RELEVANCE OF MICROORGANISMS IN THE SOIL

Microorganisms are important for soil quality and fertility. They play a major role in decomposition of organic matter, degradation of chemical pollutants and mineralization in the soil (Brussard, 1994). Amongst the different microorganisms inhabiting the soil, bacteria are the most abundant and predominant organisms (Hirsch, 1996). Bacteria and other microbes are chemical processors, tiny biotechnologists, capable of catalyzing thousands of chemical reactions that higher organisms are incapable of mediating. It has been reported that bacteria constitute the principal agents of hydrocarbon biodegradation (Jensen, 1975). It is well known that soil micro-flora and fauna can be manipulated indirectly through crop management practices. Similarly, cultivation of legumes leads to increased number of their compatible rhizobia (Hirsch, 1996)......

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