EFFECTIVENESS OF MAGATHYRSUS MAXIMUM IN THE PHYTOREMEDIATION OF CRUDE OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL

The Niger Delta region grapples with widespread soil contamination due to crude oil spills. To address this issue using locally available and cost-effective materials, Magathyrsus maximum, a type of grass, was employed to assess its potential for remediating contaminated soil samples labeled B1 and B2, with B1 serving as the control, over an eighteen-week period. The experiment involved mixing 70g of crude oil thoroughly with 4000g of loamy soil in plastic containers. Soil samples were collected using a hand trowel and analyzed at the beginning and end of the investigation. At the conclusion of the eighteen-week period, significant changes were observed in various soil parameters for sample B2. The pH values increased from 5.750±0.034 to 6.990±0.041, while electrical conductivity (EC) values decreased from 427 dS/m to 261 dS/m. Moisture content (MC) values increased from 17.3 ± 0.016% to 26.3 ± 0.057%, and bulk density decreased from 1.386 ± 0.004 g/cm³ to 1.349 ± 0.025 g/cm³. Total nitrogen content (TNC) values decreased from 0.131 ± 0.316% to 0.101 ± 0.701%, available phosphorus (AP) values decreased from 11.610 ± 0.097 mg/kg to 4.000 ± 0.054 mg/kg, and total organic carbon (TOC) values decreased from 3.990 ± 0.082% to 1.920 ± 0.035%. However, total organic matter (TOM) values increased from 1.101 ± 0.017% to 1.267 ± 0.048%, and total hydrocarbon content (THC) values decreased from 89.280 ± 0.108 mg/kg to 7.900 ± 0.082 mg/kg. The findings indicate that Magathyrsus maximum demonstrates potential for remediating crude oil-contaminated soil based on the observed changes in soil parameters.