Summary
This study investigated the effectiveness of combined phytoremediation using Lotus corniculatus and a microbial consortium (GTC-GVT/2021) for remediating soil contaminated with 6120 mg kg⁻¹ total petroleum hydrocarbons. The inoculum enhanced TPH degradation by 20.8% alone and 26.33% in conjunction with L. corniculatus over 90 days, whilst also stimulating soil enzymatic activity and increasing bioavailable phosphorus and ammonium. The findings suggest that microbial-assisted phytoremediation offers a sustainable approach to simultaneous soil decontamination and health recovery.
UK applicability
The methodology may be applicable to legacy petroleum-contaminated sites in the United Kingdom, though site-specific microbial consortium isolation and plant species selection (potentially favouring native legumes) would be required. Further trials under UK climate and soil conditions would be needed to validate efficacy and cost-effectiveness relative to established remediation techniques.
Key measures
TPH concentration (mg kg⁻¹), plant biomass (root and total), soil enzyme activity, soil nutrient content (inorganic P, NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, water-soluble phenols), microbial community structure
Outcomes reported
The study measured total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal, plant biomass accumulation, soil enzymatic activity, nutrient availability (inorganic phosphorus, ammonium, nitrate, water-soluble phenols), and shifts in soil microbial community composition in response to combined phytoremediation and microbial inoculation treatments.
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