Impact of Spent Mushroom Substrate on Soil Microarthropods in Spent Automobile Lubricant Habitat-Types at University Farm, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

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