Impact of Spent Mushroom Substrate on Soil Microarthropods in Spent Automobile Lubricant Habitat-Types at University Farm, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. (Published)
This study aimed at investigating the impact of spent mushroom substrate on soil microarthropods in spent automobile lubricant habitat-types at the University of Port Harcourt farm (40511.33.0N; 60551 20.0E). Soil samples were collected from two depth ranges (0-10cm, 10-20cm) of contaminated (2L, 4L lubricant),remediated (2L + 1.7Kg, 4L + 1.7Kg substrate) and zero treatment (control) habitat-types. The samples were extracted in modified Berlese-Tullgren funnels. A total of 24 taxa of soil microarthropods were collected with 9 and 7 from 2L-and 4L-contaminated, 21 and 18 from 2L, 4L + substrate habitat types respectively. A total of 896 individual soil microarthropods were recorded with 285 or 31.6% (control), 76 or 8.4% (2L contaminated), 57 or 6.3% (4L-contaminated), 289 or 32.9% (2L + substrate) and 189 or 21% (4L + substrate) habitat-types. The THC values were 12.1mg/kg (2L-contaminated),13.1mg/kg (4L-contaminated), 4.8mg/kg (2L+substrate) and 6.4mg/kg (4L+substrate). After 10weeks of post remediation, a reduction of 43.2% (7.3mg/kg) in THC was recorded in 2L-remediated habitat-types,which also had 12species,out of 15 that were absent in the 2L-contamianted habitat-types. The data showed a significant difference in both abundance and THC between 2L contaminated and 2L+substrate amended habitat-types.
Keywords: Habitat-Types, Mean Abundance, Mushroom Substrate, Post Remediation, Soil Microarthropods, Spent Automobile Lubricant