Phytoremediation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons From Highly Saline and Clay Soil Using<i>Sorghum halepense</i>(L.) Pers<i>. and Aeluropus littoralis</i>(Guna) Parl

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of native plants (Sorghum halepense and Aeluropus littoralis), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) concentrations, and nutrients on the removal of TPHs from a highly saline clay soil. For a period of 180 days, rhizosphere microbial number, plant biomass, and residual TPHs were determined monthly. Results showed that TPH removal from soil in the rhizosphere was 13% higher than that in the control (unplanted soil). In addition, the number of heterotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil was 7.407 and 6.629 log10CFU/g, respectively. The maximum TPH removal, microbial numbers, and plant biomass were measured in the treated soil, polluted with 0.86% (w/w) of TPH. The high clay and salinity of the experimental soil had a negative effect on the phytoremediation efficiency. Hence, it was necessary to improve the physicochemical properties of the soil to provide a good condition for plants and microbes, thereby increasing the phytoremediation efficiency.