Evaluating the biological activity of oil-polluted soils using a complex index

Abstract

A complex index characterizing the biological activity of soils (BAS) is suggested. It is based on an estimate of the level of activity of catalase; the number of heterotrophic and hydrocarbon oxidizing microor ganisms, microscopic fungi, algae, and cyanobacteria; and the degree of development of higher plants and insects in the studied soil. The data on using the BAS coefficient for evaluating the efficiency of rehabilitation measures for oil polluted soils are given. Such measures included introducing the following biological prep arations: Lenoil based on a natural consortium of microorganisms Bacillus brevis and Arthrobacter sp.; the Azolen biofertilizer with complex action based on Azotobacter vinelandii; the Belvitamil biopreparation, which is the active silt of pulp and paper production; and a ready mixed industrial association of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms that contains hydrocarbon oxidizing microorganisms of the Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Candida, Desulfovibrio, and Pseudomonas genera.

Secondary successions of biota in oil-polluted peat soil upon different biological remediation methods

“…The soil biological activity was assessed according to the population dynamics of microorgan isms belonging to different trophic groups [11,19,24] earlier detected as priority representatives for the eval uation of the remediation intensity in oil polluted northern soils [29] and according to the redox enzyme (catalase and dehydrogenase) activities [30,31]. These enzymes belong to the indicator enzymes; along with the abundances of major groups constituting the soil microbiota, their activities reflect the intensity of soil self purification from oil [10,32]. The specific fea tures in the dynamics of the soil microfauna composi tion and structure were characterized according to the population density (individuals/m 2 ) and relative abundance (%) of the taxa [18].…”

Actual and potential activity of oil-polluted sod-podzolic soil by action of phytomeliorant Carex hirta L.

“…Biological activity is an important indicator of functional and toxicological soil state, production potential [16] and determines the level of potential and effective soil fertility [17; 45]. Changing of indicators complex of biological activity of soils, polluted by oil products, and their self-regeneration capacity can serve as early diagnostic features that allow to notice negative changes in the initial stages [14; 20; 26; 34; 36].…”