Title: Development of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) seedlings in the diesel-contaminated soil

Authors: Yu-Hong Lin; Jiunn-Jyi Lay; Wen K. Shieh

Addresses: Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan ' Energy Research Center, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan ' Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 311A Towne Building, 220 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6393, USA

Abstract: The development of Bermuda grass seedlings in diesel-contaminated soil was appraised at the concentrations from 0 to 40 mg TPH/g soil (TPH: total petroleum hydrocarbons). The seedlings emerged out of the soil one week after the planting of seeds that remained unchanged over the range of concentrations tested. The seedlings grew at a reduced rate during the six-week period when tested at 10 mg TPH/g soil without triggering additional removal of diesel. The adverse effects of diesel appeared at the concentration ≥ 20 mg TPH/g soil. Sporolactobacillus sp., Prevotella sp., and Clostridium sp. were effective degraders of hydrocarbons with 1 to 6 carbons per molecule, but their additions neither increase nor accelerate the development of seedlings. Hydrocarbons with ≥ 7 carbon atoms per molecule were likely to remain in the bacteria-treated soil, and the impacts of these hydrocarbons on the seedlings emerged at ≥ 4 mg TPH/g soil. Soil pH at 7.2 to 7.4 was adequate.

Keywords: Bermuda grass; Cynodon dactylon; diesel; germination; seedlings; soil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2020.107420

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2020 Vol.10 No.3, pp.209 - 220

Received: 04 Mar 2019
Accepted: 30 Aug 2019

Published online: 28 May 2020 *

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