Variation of oil products in contaminated soil cultivated with leguminous species

Abstract

The phytoremediation of destroyed soil by anthropogenic activities with appropriate species of plants has multiple applications in the treatment of contaminated areas and environmental management. The aim of the study was to determine the abilities of Onobrychis viciifolia species to form a vegetative cover on contaminated soil with 2.86% total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and to assess the degradation efficiency from the rhizosphere. This study is performed on experimental variants of contaminated soil in the absence/presence of the fertilizer agent combined/non-combined with volcanic indigenous tuff. Each experimental variant was done in 3 replicates. The fertilization of contaminated soil with 50 t ha–1 fertilizer agent, municipal sludge anaerobically bio-stabilized (biosolids), combined with indigenous volcanic tuff, 5 t ha–1, determined the vegetation of Onobrychis viciifolia, resistant to prolonged drought. Furthermore, leguminous species, Onobrychis viciifolia, has demonstrated the ability to biodegrade oil products (TPH). The results obtained on the experimental variants fertilized with municipal sludge in the absence/presence of indigenous volcanic tuff showed oil products degradation by 55–70%, after the vegetative cycle (8 weeks). Furthermore, biomass quantity resulted from treated soil with fertilizer agent and volcanic tuff was 50% higher than the amount of biomass that resulted from volcanic tuff untreated experimental variants.