Assessing the Hydrocarbon Tolerance and Phytoremediation Trait of Vigna unguiculata L. in Aviation Fuel Spiked Soils

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 9, No. 5, May 2018 | pp. 33–40

DOI: 10.46882/2018/IJC/000116

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Assessing the Hydrocarbon Tolerance and Phytoremediation Trait of Vigna unguiculata L. in Aviation Fuel Spiked Soils

Names of Authors: O. F. Olawal¹, H. de Koning²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
²Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Abstract: The accidental leakage of aviation fuel from commercial storage facilities damages agricultural soil porosity and introduces toxic aromatic hydrocarbons into arable land, demanding green restoration strategies. This controlled study investigates the growth kinetics and remediation efficiency of Vigna unguiculata L. (Cowpea) cultivated in soils artificially spiked with varying concentrations of aviation fuel (1.0% to 4.0% w/w). Plant structural indices, remaining soil total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations, and root zone microbial populations were quantified over a 90-day developmental period. Vigna unguiculata demonstrated strong physiological tolerance, maintaining high root nodulation indices across all fuel loading levels below 3.0%. Gas Chromatography (GC-FID) profiling showed a 71.4% reduction in soil TPH content within the rhizosphere of cultivated systems, compared to minimal attenuation (24.5%) in unplanted controls. Soil microbiological testing revealed a five-fold expansion of heterotrophic degradation bacteria within the legume root matrix. This confirms that root exudates and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria actively interact to stimulate microbial proliferation, accelerating the degradation of complex petroleum structures in contaminated agricultural terrains.

Keywords: Aviation fuel; Vigna unguiculata; Total petroleum hydrocarbons; Soil phytoremediation; Rhizosphere effect; Legume symbiosis

Manuscript Timeline: Received: December 08, 2016; Revised: January 20, 2017; Accepted: February 15, 2017; Published: May 05, 2018.

Citation: Olawal, O. F., & de Koning, J. (2018). Assessing the Hydrocarbon Tolerance and Phytoremediation Trait of Vigna unguiculata L. in Aviation Fuel Spiked Soils. International Journal of Chemistry, 9(5), 33–40.

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