THE SIMPLE EFFECTS OF NITROGEN CONCENTRATION AND THE MICROBIAL POPULATION IN BIOREMEDIATION OF HYDROCARBON CONTAMINATED SOILS

M.O. Egbebike, A. N. Moneke, C.A. Ezeagu, S.D. Iyeke, P. A. Ogwo

Abstract


Bioremediation has emerged as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to managing hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. This study investigates the impact of varying nitrogen concentrations on the microbial population involved in bioremediation. The research focuses on understanding how different levels of nitrogen and different levels of oil spill influence microbial activity and diversity, ultimately affecting the efficiency of hydrocarbon degradation. Soil samples were collected from three oil spill sites of Batan and Ajuju communities in Bayelsa State and Umusia Community in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The bioremediative effects of biostimulation with three sources of Nitrogen amendment and four levels of treatment on simulated oil spillage were carried out in a 4 x 3 factorial experiment laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. An analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between nitrogen concentration (%) and microbial population (log CFUs) for various treatment combinations measured at 0, 7, 49, and 108 days after a spill-the simple effect. The results show a very strong positive correlation between nitrogen concentration (%) and microbial population (log CFUs) (r = 0.9) for all treatment combinations (measured at 0, 7, 49 and 108 days after a spill). There is a strong similarity in the regression model for nitrate nitrogen for all three levels of oil spill (b=0.39, and r = 0.95). Our findings suggest that optimal nitrogen levels significantly enhance microbial growth and hydrocarbon degradation rates and that bioremediation is most effective at lower levels of oil spill, highlighting the importance of nutrient management in bioremediation strategies. It also demonstrates that Bioremediation is an effective secondary treatment option in heavy oil spills


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