Residual effect of soil pollution with oil derivatives on the occurrence of Acarina

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of the work was to determine the residual effect (ie after one year and two years) of soil contamination with various oil derivatives (petrol, diesel fuel and used engine oil) on the activity of terrestrial Acarina. Assessed was also the effect of assisted bioremediation process on the abovementioned invertebrates. Soil, placed in the containers (1 m), was polluted with 6000 mg of fuel kg d.m. of soil in June 2010. A week later half of the containers was subjected to bioremediation with the use of ZB-01 biopreparation, specially prepared for this purpose. Epigeal fauna including Acarina was trapped using pitfall traps in the years 2011 and 2012. Two years after the moment of soil contamination with petrol, diesel fuel and engine oil on the level corresponding to the most frequently registered content in the soil medium polluted with oil derivatives, their negative effect on Acarina activity on the soil surface is still evident. Application of bioremediation supported with ZB-01 preparation significantly reduces the negative effect in case of the soil contaminated with petrol and to a lesser extend also in soil polluted with diesel fuel, whereas it contributes to a considerable intensification of Acarina activeness in the soil contaminated with used engine oil. The number of Acarina caught using pitfall traps may be strongly modified by the course of the weather conditions during respective vegetative seasons.