The Influence of Crops on the Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil Fertilized with Manure and Mineral Fertilizers

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mainly accumulated in soil. Plants secrete enzymes that transform or biodegrade PAHs in soil. Some plant species are more effective in stimulating the biodegradation of these pollutants than other species. This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of crop rotation on PAH concentrations in soil. Four crops were grown in rotation: sugar beets, spring barley, maize, and spring wheat. Soil samples for the study were obtained from a long-term field experiment established in 1986 in Bałcyny, Poland. The concentrations of PAHs were analyzed in soil samples gathered over a period of 12 years (1998–2009). An attempt was made to evaluate the effect of crop rotation (sugar beets, spring barley, maize, and spring wheat) on PAH concentrations in soil. The content of PAHs in soil samples was measured by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Data were processed statistically by repeated measures ANOVA. The concentrations of ∑16 PAHs were lowest in soil after sugar beet cultivation, and highest in soil after maize cultivation. It can be concluded that maize was the plant with the greatest adverse effect on the content of heavy PAH in the soil, a completely different effect can be attributed to spring wheat, which has always been shown to reduce the content of heavy PAH in the soil. Weather conditions affected PAHs levels in soil, and PAH content was highest in soil samples collected in a year with the driest growing season. This arrangement suggests a greater influence of weather conditions than of the cultivated plant.

Effect of Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization (UHPH) and Conventional Thermal Pasteurization on the Volatile Composition of Tiger Nut Beverage

“…The main volatile compounds found in this sample were toluene, ethanol, 1-octanol, 1-nonanol, nonanal, and limonene. The significant presence of aromatic hydrocarbons in tiger nut beverages could be attributed to different origins, such as the breakdown of plant carotenoids, the uptake by plants of chemical substances from the environment, or due to the traditional practice of burning the aerial part of the plant before harvesting of tubers [12][13][14]. It is also reported in the literature that alcohols are one of the most representative aromatic groups of raw tiger nuts (~68%), followed by aldehydes (~6.4%), pirazines (~5.6 %), and terpenes (~4.2%) [15].…”

The Effect of Spring Barley Fertilization on the Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Microbial Counts and Enzymatic Activity in Soil

“…Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered to be especially toxic to humans, likewise to plants, microorganisms and other living organisms. PAH toxicity is a well-known fact, especially its ability to cause cancer [1][2][3][4][5]. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons belong to the group of persistent organic pollutants.…”