Soil Nutrients Stability in Cultivated Oil-Spill- Impacted Soils in Niger Delta

This study investigated the impact of oil spillage on soil nutrient compositions and agronomical/growth parameters of waterleaf (Talinum triangulare), maize (Zea mays), and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria under controlled greenhouse conditions. A randomized complete block design was used, with polluted and unpolluted soil matrices, and a control treatment. Soil matrices and plant growth parameters, including seed germination, leaf height, fresh leaf count, fruit/flower count, dead leaf/stem number, and plant height, were analyzed at four time points: Day 0, Day 30, Day 60, and Day 90. The soil matrices were analyzed via atomization of the metals using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer for the nutrient elements including potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). The results showed significant variations in nutrient concentrations and agronomical/growth parameters across different soil matrices, crops, and time points. Specifically, K concentrations decreased by 40% and Ca concentrations decreased by 50% in polluted soils over the 90-day period, while Na concentrations increased by 200%. Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare) showed resilience to oil spillage, maintaining relatively stable growth and nutrient uptake patterns, whereas maize and okra exhibited significant declines in growth and nutrient concentrations. These findings underscore the detrimental effects of oil spillage on soil nutrients stability, plant growth, and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the need for effective remediation strategies and the potential use of waterleaf as a bioindicator for oil spillage impacts.