Phytoremediation innovative technology (series 1): a short-term comparative analysis of remediation potential of macrophytic agro-forestry species in a water-habitat relationship of a crude oil polluted terrestrial habitat

A short-term ecological study was conducted on the use of Agro-Forestry Species ( Leucaena leucocephala , Lam de. Wit and Bauhinia monandra ,Kurz) in enhancing water infiltration of a crude oil polluted terrestrial habitat. B. monandra treated soil had no significant effect on water infiltration. Water infiltration was retarded, with the time ranging between 3-43 minutes. While L. leucocephala treated soil had a significant infiltration rate ranging between 4-12 minutes. The implication of these for the environmental quality enhancement has also been buttressed by the ANOVA with B.monandra infiltration time significantly higher (3.85) than L. leucocephala (1.50) at P≤0.05 (3.49) level of significance. Keywords : Leucaena leucocephala, Bauhinia monandra , phytoremediation, crude oil, water infiltration Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 135-138