Effects of Poultry Manure And Cow Dung on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Crude Oil Polluted Soil

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria to investigate the potentials of using poultry manure and cow dung as bioremediants for crude oil polluted soils. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design of a split plot fashion with four main plots represented by the levels of crude oil pollution (0 ml, 100 ml, 200 ml and 300 ml), while the organic manure (poultry manure and cow dung) and a control (no-treatment) plots constituted the subplots. The entire setup was replicated 3 times. Maize seeds (Oba super) were used as a test crop. Soil collected from the university’s farm site was used to fill the buckets for planting. Thirty-six pieces of 30 cm3 capacity buckets were filled to 2/3 capacities with soil collected from the farm site, and polluted with the crude oil according to the levels. Organic manure was applied at 14days after pollution while the maize seeds were planted at 28days after pollution. Soil samples were collected at three intervals first, before pollution, secondly 14 days after pollution and then 14 days after manure application for physical and chemical analysis of the soil. At two weeks after germination, the germination percentage and plant height were determined while cob length, number of seeds per cob were determined at maturity (90 days after planting). Results revealed that crude oil pollution significantly affected the soil physical and chemical properties and also impaired maize plant growth. At increased level of pollution (300 ml), the soil chemical and physical properties were severely degraded, however, the application of poultry and cow dung manures significantly repaired the degraded soil. The results also revealed that poultry manure showed superiority over cow dung in amending crude oil degraded soil. Soil pollution also impaired the maize seed germination and growth. At 300 ml, crude oil pollution the lowest (58.50 %) germination percentage was recorded, but with application of poultry manure germination percentage was 100 %. It was recommended that poultry manure be employed in the amendment of crude oil polluted soils.