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Influence of Nitrogen Addition and Plant Root Parameters on Phytoremediation of Pyrene-contaminated Soil

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Abstract

Phytoremediation is a method in which plants, soil microorganisms, amendments, and agronomic techniques interact to enhance contaminant degradation. We hypothesized that bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L) and an appropriate amount of N fertilizer would improve remediation of pyrene-contaminated Captina silt loam soil. The soil was contaminated with 0 or 1,000 mg pyrene/kg of soil and amended with urea at pyrene-C:urea-N (C:N) ratios of 4.5:1, 9:1, 18:1, or unamended (36:1). Either zero, one, two, or three bermudagrass sprigs were planted per pot and −33 kPa moisture potential was maintained. Pyrene concentrations, inorganic-N levels, shoot and root parameters, and pyrene degrader microbial numbers were measured following a 100-day greenhouse study. At a C:N ratio of 4.5:1, the presence of plants increased pyrene biodegradation from 31% for the no plant treatment to a mean of 62% for the one, two, and three plant treatments. With no plants and C:N ratios of 4.5:1, 9:1, 18:1, and 36:1, the mean pyrene biodegradation was 31, 52, 77, and 88%, respectively, indicating that increased inorganic-N concentration in the soil reduced pyrene degradation in the treatments without plants. Additionally, none of the one, two, or three plant treatments at any of the C:N ratios were different with a mean pyrene degradation value of 69% after 100 days. Pyrene resulted in reduced shoot and root biomass, root length, and root surface area, but increased root diameter. The pyrene degrading microbial numbers were approximately 10,000-fold higher in the pyrene-contaminated soil compared to the control. At the highest N rate, bermudagrass increased pyrene degradation compared to the no plant treatment, however, in the unvegetated treatment pyrene degradation was reduced with added N.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC). The authors acknowledge the technical assistance provided by Ms. K.J. Davis and assistance by Dr. E. Gbur with statistical analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Oriana A. Thompson, Duane C. Wolf & John D. Mattice

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Gregory J. Thoma

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  1. Oriana A. Thompson
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  2. Duane C. Wolf
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  3. John D. Mattice
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  4. Gregory J. Thoma
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Correspondence to Duane C. Wolf.

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Thompson, O.A., Wolf, D.C., Mattice, J.D. et al. Influence of Nitrogen Addition and Plant Root Parameters on Phytoremediation of Pyrene-contaminated Soil. Water Air Soil Pollut 189, 37–47 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9552-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9552-4

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