Effectiveness of Vigna Unguiculata as a Phytoremediation Plant in the remediation of Crude Oil polluted soil for Cassava (Manihot Esculenta; Crantz) Cultivation

The effectiveness of Vigna unguiculata as a phytoremediation plant in the remediation of crude oil polluted soil for cassava cultivation was carried out. Soil polluted with 50ml/kg of crude oil was phytoremediated with Vigna unguiculata alongside a control and double control. After 2 months of remediation, two cassava (Manihot esculenta) varieties (NR 8082 and TMS 30572) were planted. The level of remediation as well as the crop performance (growth and yield) and leaf chlorophyll content were determined. Results showed that Total Hydrocarbon Content in the phytoremediation soil reduced significantly to 600 mg/kg as against 1300 mg/kg in the control. The crop performance (growth and yield) also improved as well as the leaf chlorophyll content of the two varieties (p=0.05). The result also showed that TMS 30572 performed better in shoot length (37.3±0.38), belowground fresh (51.24±0.77) and total dry weight (28.37±0.20) than NR 8082 of 29.9±0.83, 24.97±0.33, and 19.7± 0.19 respectively in the phytoremediated soil. Therefore, phytoremediation using Vigna unguiculata is thus recommended as a good phytoremediation measure for crude oil polluted soil for cassava cultivation especially TMS 30572.