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
