Impact of Humics and Plants on Microbial Community and Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation in Contaminated Soil

Abstract:

A greenhouse pot experiment, in which 3 different crops (wheat, cabbage, spinach) were cultivated in soil with and without humics (HS), was conducted to evaluate the effect of HS on soil microbiological properties. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles were analyzed to reveal the microbial community structure. As a measure of the functional activity of soil microbial community, the ratio of degraded to total petroleum hydrocarbon in soil was estimated. The results indicated that HS had an important effect on the soil microbial community and its functional activities. First, the principal component analysis (PCA) of the PLFA signatures revealed marked changes between soil with HS and without HS. In addition, the total amount and the profile of PLFA were significantly different between the untreated and HS-amended soils. Using PLFA patterns as a biomarker, it was found that gram-positive bacteria (G⁺) were more sensitive to HS than gram-negative bacteria (G^-), and the biomass of G⁺ was higher in soil with HS than in that without HS. Second, the crop could stimulate the growth of soil microorganisms; however, the differences depended clearly on the crop species. The G⁺ and G^- biomass was increased in spinach soil containing HS, but was decreased in wheat and cabbage soils. The population of fungi was increased in wheat and spinach soils containing HS, but was decreased in cabbage soil. The population of actinomycetes was increased in cabbage soil, but was decreased in wheat and spinach soils containing HS. Third, the ratio of degraded to total petroleum hydrocarbon was also affected by the HS treatment. It was slightly increased in soil with HS treatment, but a significant change depended on the crop species. In general, fatty acids ranged from C13 to C19. In total, 25 different PLFAs were identified, including saturated (SAT), monounsaturated (MUFA), branched (BR), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) species. There was a clear difference in the PLFA composition between soils with and without HS.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 726-731)
• Pages: 131-140
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.726-731.131
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Hai Hua Jiao*, Kai Wang, Jian Gang Pan, De Cai Jin, Zhan Bin Huang, Zhi Hui Bai
• Keywords: Bioremediation, Humics, Microbial Community, Phospholipid Fatty Acid, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH)

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