and Gram negative bacteria in the control and crude oil polluted soils. There was a preponderance of Gram positive bacteria over the Gram negative in the unpolluted controls but in the polluted soils, the populations of Gram negative bacteria, particularly rods predominated over the Gram positive.
Result of the effects of crude oil on soil microbial respiration is presented in Figure 4. Soil respiration was quantified in terms of the level of carbon IV oxide evolved from the soil. Analysis for CO2 evolution was done at four-weekly intervals during the eight-week experiment. High levels of crude oil significantly (P