Hydrocarbon-related environmental pollution is a major environmental hazard due to its toxicity and widespread presence in the environment, resulting in stunted growth of soil microorganisms, plants, and animals. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation and compost made from Cocoa Pod Husk (CPH) and cattle dung in the bioremediation of Spent Engine Oil (SEO)-contaminated soil. About 2.5 kg of sterilised soil was contaminated with SEO at different concentrations: 0, 100, and 150 mL / pot. Compost was then added after two weeks of contamination at the rate of 10 g / pot. Inoculation for treatments containing Glomus mossaea (consisting of 20 g of root soil-fungal mixture) was blended into the soil samples as well. It was a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial experiment that was laid out in a completely randomised design and replicated three times. The incubation was allowed to last for twelve (12) weeks before the termination of the experiment. Data were collected on the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), bacterial and fungal biomass of the SEO-contaminated soil. Results obtained indicate that combined application of mycorrhiza with 100 mL / pot SEO resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) lower residual TPH content (54.50% degradation) of the contaminated soil compared to the other treatment combinations whereas significantly higher residual TPH content (20.43% degradation) of the contaminated soil was obtained from the interaction between 150 mL / pot SEO and without mycorrhizal inoculation. Interaction between mycorrhiza and 10 g / pot compost had a significantly higher bacterial colony (6.58 CFU / g) compared to other treatment combinations. Mycorrhizal inoculation resulted in a significantly higher fungal colony (5.844 CFU / g) compared with non-mycorrhizal inoculation (3.222 CFU / g). Therefore, it can be concluded that mycorrhizal inoculation and compost were effective in the bioremediation of SEO-impacted soil.

The harmful effects of spent engine oil on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems have been well established in literature. This study was conducted to assess the bio stimulatory influence of amendments; compost and inorganic fertilizer on bacterial degradation of spent engine oil contaminated soil.  500 g of unpolluted soil was collected and artificially contaminated with 5, 10 and 15% (v/w) spent engine oil. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design. Each amendment (50 g) was subsequently mixed thoroughly with the spent engine oil contaminated soil at varying levels except nine experimental bottles used as control. Incubation study was carried out and lasted for four weeks. Estimation of total petroleum hydrocarbon, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature and bacterial population density was done within two weeks interval during the incubation study. Results obtained indicate that compost significantly enhanced total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction by 87% while inorganic fertilizer facilitated 62% total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction on 5% spent engine oil contamination level respectively. Estimation of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria on 5, 10 and 15% spent engine oil contaminated soil indicated that compost enhanced higher hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria thereby influencing bacterial degradation than those stimulated with inorganic fertilizer. pH remained in the range of alkalinity (7.8 and 8.06) for compost and 6.2 and 6.7 for inorganic fertilizer. The potential that compost recorded in influencing bacterial degradation of spent engine oil contaminated soil in this study has made it a good bio stimulant for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon polluted environments.

This study assessed the heavy metal decontamination potential of bio-enhanced Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis co-culture in used lubricating oil-contaminated soil. The bacterial co-culture was isolated from the soil obtained from Dutse mechanic village, Nigeria. One thousand five hundred(1500) g of sterilized soil was intentionally contaminated with used lubricating oil at three levels. The sterilized soil was biostimulated with processed compost, powdered cocoa pod husk (PCPH), and powdered cattle dung (PCD). Afterward, the mixtures were bio-augmented with the bacterial co-culture (150 mL). The concentrations of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni) and Lead (Pb) in the used lubricating oil contaminated soil were determined at the commencement, fifth and tenth week of the study. A factorial experiment which was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) was adopted. Results generated from the As decontamination potential of Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis co-culture indicated that all the organic amendments significantly (p<0.05) enhanced its decontamination. At the fifth week, PCPH only enhanced the most Cd decontaminations (0.01020 mg kg-1, 0.00220 mg kg-1 and 0.00150 mg kg-1) compared with other organic amendments on 5%, 10% and 15% used lubricating oil contamination levels, respectively. At the tenth week, PCD only enhanced complete removal of Cd on all used lubricating oil contamination levels compared with compost and PCPH only, which attained complete removal of Cd on 5% and 15% of used lubricating oil contamination levels, respectively. The heavy metal decontamination potential of bio-enhanced Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis co-culture witnessed in this study indicates its suitability in effecting bioremediation of heavy metal impacted environments.

The fruit popularly known as Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a local recipe eaten in Nigeria and African. The research was conducted to evaluate the nutritional composition and phytoconstituents of the peels, pulp and seeds of the fruit. The vitamin C was also determined. Proximate analysis revealed that the pulp contained much higher moisture content of 11.50 ± 0.50 % than the peels with 8.78 ± 1.25 %, and 3.66±0.29 % seed respectively. The ash content for peels was high with 5.31 ± 0.55 %, while pulp contained 3.66 ± 0.82 % and the seeds contained 2.97 ± 05 % respectively. For crude lipids; seeds contained high value of 13.66 ± 0.29 % compared to the peels with 2.33 ± 0.29 % and pulp contained 0.5± 0.00 %.respectively. The crude fibre; seeds contained higher value of 14.66 ± 0.57 % compared to peels with 10.66 ± 29 % and7.66 ± 0.29 % for pulp. The crude proteins, the peels contained 2.88 ± 1.69 %, while the pulp contained 3.33± 0.17 % and seeds contained 18.75± 0.65% having the highest value which implies that the seed is rich in protein thereby help to build the body and replace worn-out tissues. The carbohydrate value for pulp was much higher with 73.35 ± 1.78 %, peels contained 70.04± 4.05 % and seed contained 46.3± 0.78 % respectively. The mineral elements revealed that Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, P and Zn are much present with significant different P<0.05.Therefore, seed is a reservoir of crude lipids, while pulp serves as a reservoir of moisture content and food supplement whereas peels serve as reservoir for mineral elements. The vitamin C value ranged from (4.56± 0.47 to 3.32± 0.37) mg/100 g respectively. Phytochemical analyses of aqueous extracts revealed that terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and steroids are present. This justify the claim why the fruit can be used as food and medicinal purpose.

Pollution of groundwater by slaughterhouse effluent has been documented to have negative health and environmental consequences. Tudun-Wada and Kawo residential suburbs of Kaduna city are known to house slaughterhouses where effluent is mostly discharged indiscriminately into the environment. Eighteen water samples were obtained from six existing hang dug wells representing six sampling points with varying distances in the study area. Group A (K1 and T1) is located within the slaughterhouses, Group B (K2 and T2) is located 60-130 meters away from the slaughterhouses and Group C (K3 and T3) is 80-200 meters away from the slaughterhouses. Standardized methods were employed to analyze temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), bacterial oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate, sulphate, total coliform and faecal coliform of the sampled water. Results indicated that the mean pH values obtained in T1, T2, T3, and K1 are significantly (p> 0.05) different from each but are significantly (p< 0.05) different from the ones obtained in K2 and K3. Except for T3, which was in line with WHO and NSDWQ requirements, all of the groups had high feacal coliform and total coliform counts. Owing to the results recorded in this study, water drawn from hand-dug wells near slaughterhouses should be subjected to sanitary treatment before drinking and other uses. Again, we advised the state environmental protection agency to actively monitor the activities of the slaughterhouses and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.