Evaluating Bioremediation Strategies on Microbial Diversity in Crude Oil-Contaminated Soil Over Three to Six Months in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Rationale: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various bioremediation approaches on microbial diversity in crude oil-contaminated soil over a duration of three to six months in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Objective: The objective was to assess the impact of different bioremediation strategies on microbial populations, particularly focusing on hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria and fungi. Method(s): Microbial populations were quantified using serial dilution and microbial count techniques. The vapor phase transfer mechanism was employed to estimate hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria and fungi. Bacterial and fungal colonies were incubated for five days, followed by biochemical tests for isolate identification. Fungal pure cultures were observed under a microscope. Results: The study observed a significant increase in microbial populations in soil free of crude oil pollution when bioremediators such as mushrooms and earthworms were introduced. Mushrooms exhibited a 50% increase in hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria (HUB), while earthworms showed a 55% increase in HUB over the three to six-month period. The longer lifespan and nutrient absorption capabilities of earthworms facilitated faster growth. Furthermore, significant growth in the microbial population of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria and fungi was observed in crude oil-polluted soil after employing bioremediators, with the highest growth observed in soil treated with mushrooms at six months, followed by earthworms at six months. Conversely, the lowest microbial population was recorded in soil polluted with 10% crude oil and remediated with earthworms at three months. Conclusions: The results suggest that both mushrooms and earthworms effectively increase microbial populations in crude oil-polluted soil. However, mushrooms demonstrated a higher microbial population increase compared to earthworms, especially in terms of promoting the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria (HUB) and hydrocarbon-utilizing fungi (HUF). Recommendations: Based on the findings, it is recommended to prioritize the use of mushrooms as bioremediation agents in similar environmental restoration efforts due to their superior efficacy in increasing microbial populations, particularly HUB and HUF. Significance Statement: This study underscores the potential of mushrooms and earthworms as effective bioremediation agents for restoring microbial diversity in crude oil-contaminated soil, offering insights for sustainable environmental restoration practices in oil-affected regions like Port Harcourt, Nigeria.