Growth and tolerance evaluation of selected plants to crude oil contamination in the Niger Delta

الملخص EN

Little is known about Niger Delta plant species that can adapt to survive in oil-contaminated soil.

to investigate this, the following plant species zea mays, telfairaoccidentalis, saccharum officinarum, kalanchoe pinnata, phaseolus vulgaris, arachis hypogaea, phragmitis australis, azolla pinnata and eichornia crasssipes were screened for growth and tolerance to 0, 1, 3 and 6% w/w crude oil contamination for a 120-day period to determine the influence of oil on plant germination, height, root length, leaf area growth and survival/death time.

with the exception of p.

vulgaris and a.

hypogaea, plant germination was delayed with increased concentration of oil.

the effect of oil concentration on height, root length and leaf area growth varied with plant species (P<0.05).

among the nine plants tested only E.

crassipes, P.

australis and S.

officinarum survived for the 120-day period of the study at 6% w/w contamination.

the survival of these plants in oil-contaminated soils indicates that they could be used for rhizoremediation in the Niger Delta.