Soil conditioners improve rhizodegradation of aged petroleum hydrocarbons and enhance the growth of Lolium multiflorum

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-02, Vol.29 (6), p.9097-9109
• Main Authors: Hussain, Fida, Khan, Aqib Hassan Ali, Hussain, Imran, Farooqi, Asifa, Muhammad, Yousaf Shad, Iqbal, Mazhar, Arslan, Muhammad, Yousaf, Sohail
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aeration; Aging; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biodegradation; Bioremediation; Charcoal; Composting; Composts; Contaminants; Decontamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Germination; Hydrocarbons; Hydrophobicity; Lolium; Lolium perenne; Microorganisms; Nutrient release; Petroleum; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Phytoremediation; Phytotoxicity; Plant growth; Research Article; Seed germination; Soil; Soil aeration; Soil amendment; Soil compaction; Soil conditioners; Soil conditions; Soil contamination; Soil improvement; Soil nutrients; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil pollution; Soil remediation; Soil water; Soils; Stimulants; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16149-7

Bioremediation and phytoremediation have demonstrated potential for decontamination of petroleum hydrocarbon-impacted soils. The total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) are known to induce phytotoxicity, reduce water retention in soil, associate hydrophobic nature and contaminants’ in situ heterogeneous distribution, limit soil nutrient release and reduce soil aeration and compaction. The ageing of TPHs in contaminated soils further hinders the degradation process. Soil amendments can promote plant growth and enhance the TPH removal from contaminated aged soil. In the present experiment, remediation of TPH-contaminated aged soil was performed by Italian ryegrass, with compost (COM, 5%), biochar (BC, 5%) and immobilized microorganisms’ technique (IMT). Results revealed that significantly highest hydrocarbon removal (40%) was noted in mixed amendments (MAA) which contained BC + COM + IMT, followed by COM (36%), compared to vegetative control and other treatments. The higher TPH removal in aged soil corresponds with the stimulated rhizospheric effects, as evidenced by higher root biomass (85–159% increase), and bacterial count compared to NA control. Phyto-stimulants actions of biochar and IMT improved seed germination of Italian ryegrass. The compost co-amendment with other treatments showed improvement in plant physiological status. These results suggested that plant growth and TPH removal from aged, contaminated soils using BC, COM and IMT can improve bioremediation efficiency. Graphical abstract