Biostimulation potentials of pig dung and oil palm fruit chaff on a diesel fuel polluted soil

Abstract

The study was carried out to examine the biostimulatory effect of pig dung and oil palm fruit chaff on remediation of soil contaminated with diesel fuel. Different rates (0, 1 and 2kg) of pig dung and 1kg of oil palm fruit chaff and were applied to diesel fuel contaminated soils at (0, 1litre and 2litre /ha) of diesel fuel respectively were used. A total of twelve (12) treatments combination with three (3) replicates each summing to thirty-six (36) plots were used. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design. The soil physicochemical parameters that were examined are pH, total organic content (TOC), nitrogen (N), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N), phosphorus (P) CEC, TPH and PAH. The results for soil physicochemical parameters showed significant variations (P<0.05) in the levels of pH, phosphorus, Cation Exchange Capacity, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) associated with pollution and biodegradation occurring within the soils, the result shows high levels in total organic carbon (TOC) and Nitrogen. Soil analysis during the experiment revealed a general negative correlation coefficient implying enhanced remediation during the trial periods. The research has shown that pig dung and oil palm fruit chaff are good biostimulatory agent in the remediation and restoration of diesel fuel polluted soil.