Abstract

This study assessed the nutrient composition (including sulphate, nitrate and phosphate) and electrical conductivity in an oil spill contaminated soil along Shell Petroleum Development Company Right of way in Rumuolukwu, Eneka, Port Harcourt. Oil spill contaminated soil and control samples (50 m away from the contaminated site) were collected at different depth i.e. 0- 15cm, 15 - 30 cm, 30 – 45 cm and 45 – 60 cm across a period of 6 months i.e. August to October, 2013 (Wet season) and November 2013 to January 2014 (dry season). The samples were prepared and analyzed using standard procedures. The mean result at various depth for wet and dry season was 18.2 and 41.7 µS/cm (electrical conductivity), 1.5 and 1.9 mg/kg (nitrate), 4.2 and 4.7 mg/kg (sulphate), 0.62 and 0.68 mg/kg (phosphate) respectively. The electrical conductivity and nutrient concentration in an oil spill contaminated soil were lower than the control soil. Also the concentration during the wet season was lower than the findings during the dry season. As such season affects nutrient concentration in an oil spill contaminated soil.



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