Microbial analysis of the crude oil polluted and unpolluted soil revealed higher population of Hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB) in the crude oil polluted soil than unpolluted soil. Similarly, higher population of Hydrocarbon utilizing fungi (HUF) was recorded in crude oil polluted soil than unpolluted soil. This is as a result of the presence of hydrocarbon which serves as source of food for the HUB and HUF. This has favored the rapid replication of HUB and HUF thereby resulting to their high population in crude oil polluted soil. The lower microbial population of HUB and HUF observed in unpolluted soil was as a result of unfavorable condition imposed by lack of food. Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB) and Total Fungi (TF) are lower in crude oil polluted soil. This is as a result of adverse effect of the crude oil on the microbial population.
The difference in microbial population is also a reflection of many factors such as nutrient and oxygen levels, temperature and availability of minerals [33]. The differences in both bacterial and fungal populations could then be attributed to possible change in nutrient and oxygen supply to the soils.
The growth performance of maize and cowpea grown on crude oil polluted soil was poor compared to