Screening of plants for phytoremediation of oil-contaminated soil |
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Authors: | Hiromi Ikeura Yu Kawasaki Etsuko Kaimi Junko Nishiwaki Kosuke Noborio |
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Institution: | 1. Organization for the Strategic Coordination of Research and Intellectual Properties, Meiji University, Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan;2. Graduate School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan;3. Department of Environmental Research and Development, Chugai-Technos Corp., Yokogawasinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan;4. College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Chuo, Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki, Japan;5. School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kurokawa, Asao-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan |
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Abstract: | Several species of ornamental flowering plants were evaluated regarding their phytoremediation ability for the cleanup of oil-contaminated soil in Japanese environmental conditions. Thirty-three species of plants were grown in oil-contaminated soil, and Mimosa, Zinnia, Gazania, and cypress vine were selected for further assessment on the basis of their favorable initial growth. No significant difference was observed in the above-ground and under-ground dry matter weight of Gazania 180 days after sowing between contaminated and non-contaminated plots. However, the other 3 species of plants died by the 180th day, indicating that Gazania has an especially strong tolerance for oil-contaminated soil. The total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration of the soils in which the 4 species of plants were grown decreased by 45–49% by the 180th day. Compared to an irrigated plot, the dehydrogenase activity of the contaminated soil also increased significantly, indicating a phytoremediation effect by the 4 tested plants. Mimosa, Zinnia, and cypress vine all died by the 180th day after seeding, but the roots themselves became a source of nutrients for the soil microorganisms, which led to a phytoremediation effect by increase in the oil degradation activity. It has been indicated that Gazania is most appropriate for phytoremediation of oil-contaminated soil. |
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Keywords: | phytoremediation Gazania total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) dehydrogenase activity (DHA) |
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