Increase in Plant Survival in the Processes of Phytoremediation of Oil-Contaminated Soils of the Permafrost Zone

Abstract

Oil and oil products are among the most common soil contaminants. The phytoremediation method is widely used to restore oil-contaminated soils. Permafrost conditions are an additional stress factor for plant growth. The experimental results showed that the dependences of the physiological characteristics of plants on the amount of added oil are nonlinear, which indicates the adaptive nature of these changes. Small amounts of oil (0.16-0.25%) even stimulate plant growth. However, oil additions in excess of 0.82% already inhibit plant growth. The study of increasing plant survival in permafrost soils in a toxic environment (oil pollution) showed that positive results had been achieved by soaking seeds in solutions of biologically active substances. Seed soaking increased the resistance of plants even at the stage of seed treatment, which contributes to their survival in a toxic oil-polluted environment. For example, it is possible to recommend a sowing of Vicia sativa seeds that have been pre-treated by soaking in salicylic acid solutions of different concentrations or humate for increase the effectiveness of measures to clean up areas from oil pollution.