Contamination of soil by crude oil can damage ecosystem and environment. The oil can cause damage to the plants, the first element in food cycle. On the other hand, there are some plants that can be used to remediate crude oil-contaminated soil. Some plants such as grasses have been demonstrated to have better capacity in biodegradation of oil in the soil. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of light crude oil (1-10 %) on the growth and germination of Festuca arundinacea (Tall fescue) was studied for 120 days. The results showed that percent germination and dry biomass of the plants decreased by increasing light crude oil concentration in the soil. The total biomass (root + shoot) was higher (2.1 g) in 1 % crude oil sample while it was lower (0.06 g) in 10 % crude oil sample. The length of leaves decreased in higher crude oil concentration compared with that in control (27 cm). Total colony and oil-degrading colony count in soil showed that the microbial population in 7 and 10 % oil samples was higher than those in the control and low concentrations of crude oil. On the other hand, the effect of the plant on crude oil reduction was also studied and compared in vegetated and non-vegetated oilcontaminated soil. The crude oil reduction in the vegetated and the non-vegetated samples was higher in 1 % oil sample. All vegetated samples had higher crude oil reduction than the non-vegetated samples. The higher reduction (73 %) occurred at 1 % sample, while the lower reduction (24 %) was seen at 10 % oil sample. In conclusion, Festuca arundinacea as a grass could tolerate high concentration of light crude oil in soil and is a suitable plant for phytoremediation of oil-contaminated soil. However high concentration of oil could affect its growth and germination, reducing the root distribution in soil and causing untimely chlorosis.
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