RESUMO
Persistent crude oil contamination poses a significant environmental challenge. In this study, the efficacy of Vigna unguiculata (L.) and associated rhizospheric microorganisms in remediating crude oil-contaminated soil within a microcosm setting was investigated. A randomized block design was employed, and soil samples were subjected to varying degrees of contamination: 0% (UR), 2.5% (CR2), 5.0% (CR5), 7.5% (CR7), and 10.0% (CR10) w/w crude oil. The investigation aimed to assess the potential of Vigna unguiculata (L.) in mitigating crude oil contamination across these defined contamination gradients. The plant growth and crude oil removal were monitored concurrently post-emergence. Plant emergence and growth were significantly affected due to contamination, especially among plants in CR5 and CR10. The bacterial population was higher in the rhizosphere, and the treatments with lower hydrocarbon contamination. It was shown that plant density encouraged the growth of bacterial communities. Significant reduction in soil TPH was observed in CR2 (76.61%) and CR7 (65.88%). There was a strong correlation between plant growth and oil-utilizing bacterial population (r2 = 0.966) and plant growth and hydrocarbon reduction (r2 = 0.956), signifying the role of plant-bacterial synergy. Saturate fractions (C30 - C32) were significantly degraded to lower molecular weight compounds (C11 - C14). Except in CR5 and CR10, the remediation within the cowpea rhizosphere was effective even at regulatory standards. Understanding the rhizosphere ecological dynamics would further highlight the role the bacteria played; hence, it is recommended.
The present study established a direct link between bacterial-plant interaction and biodegradation of crude oil. It extensively explored the nature of the degradation and also the fate of the residual oil. The present study achieved high rate of TPH removal within 12 weeks using cowpea alone as against the several previous reports that used other stimulants.