EFFECT OF ORGANIC MANURES AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER ON SOIL MICROBIAL BIOMASS AND FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telefeira occidentalis) IN THE REMEDIATION OF PETROLEUM POLLUTED SOILS

Abstract: The soils were analyzed to access the effect of soil microbial biomass on the growth of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) in the remediation of crude oil polluted soils of Bayelsa State. Two (2) locations, Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area with latitudes 4. 8519 N and longitudes 6.3745 E and Koloama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area with latitudes 4.582222 N and longitudes 6.064722 E, were selected for this research. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0 – 30 cm, bulked for pot experiment in the screen house. Five (5) kilograms of soil were weighed into twenty-four (24) plastic buckets of seven (7) liters each for Imiringi and Koloama, making a total of forty-eight (48) plastic buckets used. The experimental design was a 2 x 8 factorial experiment laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) replicated three times. Results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis of variance using the Tukey’s Test to separate means of significant difference at 5 % probability level. The amendment materials used were organic manures [cow dung (CD) and poultry dropping (PD)] inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and their combinations (CD + PD, PD + NPK, NPK + CD and CD + PD + NPK). The study revealed the relationship between soil microbial biomass and growth of the plant (Telfairia occidentalis) in Imiringi and Koloama, on application of the amendments (treatments) with the release of the essential element – Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus to the plant, showing that both are significantly different with few variations on the plant growth parameters (vine length, girth and number of branches) at different times (4 WAP, 8 WAP and 12 WAP), indicating the effectiveness of the application of these amendment materials. Keywords: Crude Oil, Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), Imiringi, Inorganic Fertilizer (NPK), Koloama, Organic manures, Polluted Soils, Soil Microbial Biomass. Title: EFFECT OF ORGANIC MANURES AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER ON SOIL MICROBIAL BIOMASS AND FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telefeira occidentalis) IN THE REMEDIATION OF PETROLEUM POLLUTED SOILS Author: Teknikio, Jemimah. B. International Journal of Novel Research in Interdisciplinary Studies ISSN 2394-9716 Vol. 10, Issue 4, July 2023 - August 2023 Page No: 6-12 Novelty Journals Website: www.noveltyjournals.com Published Date: 14-July-2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8146522 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/EFFECT%20OF%20ORGANIC%20MANURES-14072023-2.pdfInternational Journal of Novel Research in Interdisciplinary Studies, ISSN 2394-9716, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co