Phytoremediation potential of Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild and Th. Dur.) seedlings grown in spent engine oil contaminated soil

Remediation of environmental pollution has been of great concern in recent years. This study was carried out to investigate the potentials of Nauclea diderrichii seedlings to remediate heavy metals from spent engine oil (SEO) contaminated soil. SEO from diesel and petrol engines in different quantities were applied to each plant using 2 kg soil. Plant height, collar diameter, number of leaves, root length were assessed. Amount of lead and cadmium present in the leaves, stem and root of the seedlings were assessed at the end of the experiment. Result showed that 100 % of the seedlings subjected to various treatments survived for the duration of 5 months. There was no significant difference (α>0.05) in the height of N. diderrichii seedlings. Significant (α=0.05) negative reductions were observed in the seedlings collar diameter, no. of leaves and root length. There was significant difference (α>0.05) in the amount of lead and cadmium extracted by N. diderrichii seedlings. This study has been able to show that N. diderrichii has the ability/potential to phyto-extract heavy metals from soil. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.55(4), 261-272, 2020