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Tolerance of Four Tropical Tree Species to Heavy Petroleum Contamination

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Abstract

Four species of trees were selected to evaluate the tolerance to heavy crude oil contamination by means of a tolerance index integrating germination, height, biomass and survival as variables. Fresh seeds to Cedrela odorata (tropical cedar), Haematoxylum campechianum (tinto bush), Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany) and Tabebuia rosea (macuilis) were planted in a Vertisol to which heavy crude petroleum was added at four different treatments (C0, 0; C1, 18,940; C2, 44,000; and C3, 57,000 mg kg−1), with the control being uncontaminated soil. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse during 203 days with a completely random design. The presence of petroleum in soil stimulated and increased germination of S. macrophylla and C. odorata, accelerated the germination of T. rosea and did not affect the germination of H. campechianum. The height and biomass of all species was reduced in the presence of petroleum in the soil. The survival of S. macrophylla and H. campechianum was not affected by petroleum at any concentration studied. On the other hand, C. odorata and T. rosea showed high mortality at all concentrations. The tolerance index showed that S. macrophylla was best at tolerating petroleum in soil and could be employed as a productive alternative for the advantageous use of contaminated sites. The use of tree species could be important because of the great potential of trees for phytoremediation due to their long life, biomass and deep roots that can penetrate and remediate deeper soil layers.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Manuel Mendoza Carranza y Noel Antonio González Valdivia who provided advice on statistical analysis. Aaron Jarquín Sánchez was most helpful with the soil analysis. José Guadalupe Chan-Quijano helped with laboratory activities. The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) provided a scholarship (207824) for doctoral studies to Isidro Pérez Hernández. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur provided infrastructure and financial support.

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  1. Departamento de Ciencias de la Sustentabilidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Villahermosa-Reforma km 15.5 s/n, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México

    I. Pérez-Hernández

  2. Departamento de Ciencias de la Sustentabilidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. Rancho Polígono 2-A Ciudad Industrial, Lerma, Campeche, México

    S. Ochoa-Gaona

  3. División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Remediación, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Villahermosa-Cárdenas km. 0.5 s/n, 86150, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México

    R. H. Adams Schroeder

  4. Impacto y Mitigación del Cambio Climático, Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Tabasco, Periférico Carlos A. Molina s/n, km 3.5, H. Cárdenas, Tabasco, México

    M. C. Rivera-Cruz

  5. Alterra, P.O. Box 47, 6708 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    V. Geissen

  6. LAD Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6708 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    V. Geissen

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  1. I. Pérez-Hernández
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  2. S. Ochoa-Gaona
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  3. R. H. Adams Schroeder
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  4. M. C. Rivera-Cruz
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Pérez-Hernández, I., Ochoa-Gaona, S., Adams Schroeder, R.H. et al. Tolerance of Four Tropical Tree Species to Heavy Petroleum Contamination. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1637 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1637-7

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