EVALUATION OF SOME ORGANIC REMEDIES EFFECTS ON SOME SOIL PROPERTIES AND CROP

Abstract

This work aims to study the effect of contaminated soil remediation on some soil properties. Also a remediation experiment was conducted to show the useful effect of two remedies named Triton x-100 and potassium oleate in decreasing the hydrocarbons (aliphatic and aromatic) and heavy metals contents in crude oil contaminated soil samples. Two soils (sandy and calcareous) were contaminated by 1 , 2 and 3 % V/W of crude oil, then each contamination level was treated by 0 (untreated) , 1 and 3 % of the two used remedies. Pots were seeded with barley seeds, barley plant samples were collected at the end of the experiment. The total concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in plant samples and soil under study were estimated. Also, the concentration of hydrocarbons and heavy metals were measured. It can be deduced from the data obtained from this study that the total contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were significantly affected by contamination by crude oil. Application of Triton x-100 and potassium oleate decreased to high extents the concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons as well as the heavy metals. For example, the use of Triton x-100 reduced the concentration of aliphatic hydrocarbons by percents reached to 54 % as compared to the non-remedied samples. On the other hand, the concentration of heavy metals as Nickel also decreased by about 55 %, which confirms the efficiency of the used remedies. Also, application of these remedies had increased the total contents of organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the treated samples than those in untreated ones. The application of organic remediation of contaminated soils led to limited increase on EC and pH values this result confirms the importance of these organic remedies to reduce the harmful effects on the properties of remedied soil.