Abstract

Soil contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons has become a major environmental concern, leading to reduced soil fertility, disrupted ecosystems, and health risks. In Assam, decades of petroleum exploration and production have resulted in widespread contamination of soil and contributed significantly to this problem through repeated oil spills. However, traditional remediation approaches, though effective, are often cost-prohibitive and unsustainable for large-scale deployment. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to remediate contaminated environments, has emerged as a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable strategy for mitigating soil contamination. To address this, the present study investigates the phytoremediation potential of two native plant species, Colocasia esculenta (commonly known as Elephant Ear) and Mimosa pudica (Sleepy plant) as a sustainable and cost-effective solution. Laboratory trials were first conducted to assess contaminant uptake and plant response, followed by field implementation at the hydrocarbon contaminated soil site-A in Assam. The study shows promising potential results as plants possess unique physiological traits that enable them to uptake, accumulate, or detoxify various contaminants, making them suitable candidates for remediating sites affected by industrial and oil-related pollutants. Both species demonstrated significant reductions in total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and improvements in soil health. This study adds practical evidence to phytoremediation potential of native and adaptive plants for restoring contaminated soils in Assam’s oil-affected regions. Furthermore, it aims to support scalable and environmentally compatible eco-restoration models in Assam’s oil-producing landscapes, aligning with regional HSE & sustainability goals