ABSTRACT:

The use of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus L) for remediating hydrocarbon-contaminated soil and its impact on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was the focus of the current research. In this study, the goal was to assess the efficiency of bioremediation in soil contaminated with spent engine oil using Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus L). Soil samples were randomly gathered from the fallow plot within the campus using an auger at a depth of 0–30cm and then combined. A portion of the soil sample underwent routine analysis in the laboratory, while the rest was weighed, placed in the polythene, and transferred to the greenhouse for the study. The soil sample for routine analysis was homogenized, crushed, air-dried, and sieved with a 2mm sieve. The findings via SPSS statisticsl analysis indicated that okra seeds planted in soil treated with oyster mushrooms exhibited improved growth and yield parameters at 8WAP. Soils contaminated with 50ml, 100ml, and 200ml of spent engine oil led to an increase in the total hydrocarbon content in the soil. This study has shown that oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) have the ability to swiftly break down hydrocarbon chains, leading to a rapid reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the substrates. Furthermore, soil biological enhancement methods, such as oyster mushroom inoculation, can enhance the physiological development of okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (L) Moench) under abiotic stress.