Herbaceous energy crops for cleaning of soils contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons

Abstract

There is a possibility to create a sustainable method of biomass growth in mid-low contaminated sites soil system using phytoremedial methods in biomass engineering. Main aim of the research was to assess herbaceous plants abilities of clean the soil contaminated by oil hydrocarbons. Results show, that the proper selection of herbaceous energy crops can reach high level of sites treatment at pollution concentration levels from 223 mg/kg to 594 mg/kg of oil hydrocarbons. The soil pollution was reduced by 1.6 – 3.2 times using 3 selected plants. In all cases, the test showed that the soil volume of oil products was lower or slightly higher than threshold value of permissible maximum (200 mg/kg) soil pollution. Plants endurance limit has not been reached, visual oil hydrocarbons toxicity effects were not observed. Oil hydrocarbons have significant impact on plant roots and aerial parts lengths and biomass accumulation of both roots and above ground parts. E-2 case accumulated significantly more biomass in contaminated soil than in control group. Other cases showed minor and insignificant differences between the control and experimental groups.