Abstract

Crude oil-polluted soil was evaluated. The experiment was carried out under controlled environment. The variables assessed were germination percentage, plant heights, stem girths, number of leaves and nodulation with standard procedure. The physiochemical properties including; organic matter, pH, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium present in the soil used were determined with standard protocol. Results showed that at different contamination level by crude oil (i.e 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100) ml, Albizia procera had germination rate of 30%, 27%, 25%, 21% and 18% respectively, mean height of 45.50cm, 42.20cm, 40.15cm, 37.60cm and 30.80cm respectively in 16 Weeks After Planting (WAP), mean girth of 0.45mm, 0.36mm, 0.35mm, 0.35mm and 0.25mm respectively at16 WAP, number of nodules of 6, 4, 4, 2 and respectively and number of leave of 11.00, 11.00, 8.00, 6.00 and 5.00 respectively. The soil physicochemical properties were decreasing as the crude oil contamination level increases. With crude oil contamination level increased, the germination rate, height, girth and number of leaves and nodules decreased suggesting the influence of crude oil contaminants on Albizia procera. The ability of the species to survive the different crude oil contamination level suggests that it’s a potential leguminous species that is preferred for the remediation and rehabilitation of Niger Delta crude oil contaminated soil.