Abstract
Phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil requires strategies to overcome plant stress and enhance microbial degradation. This study evaluated an integrated approach using Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) augmented with nutrients and a microbial consortium (MLSS). A 90-day pot experiment was conducted with soil contaminated with Bangistan crude oil (0.25–5% w/w). Treatments included unplanted control, planted control, and planted systems amended with NPK fertilizer and/or MLSS. The combined nutrient and MLSS amendment synergistically enhanced remediation. It achieved > 95% Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) removal at the lowest concentration (0.25%), significantly increased rhizosphere microbial populations (~ 3 orders of magnitude), and improved plant biomass. First-order kinetics revealed a drastic reduction in TPH half-life from 296 days (unplanted) to 20 days in the optimized treatment. Efficiency decreased with increasing crude oil concentration, indicating a phytotoxicity threshold. The core innovation of this study is the demonstrated synergy between C. dactylon and an engineered rhizosphere microbiome through combined bioaugmentation and biostimulation. This strategy offers a highly effective, scalable, and sustainable protocol for rehabilitating oil-contaminated soils.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran (Grant No. 98065) for this research.
Funding
This research was financially supported by the Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran (Grant No. 98065).
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Moghadam, Z., Doraghi, M., Fallahizadeh, S. et al. Enhanced phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil using Cynodon dactylon with nutrient and mixed liquid suspended solids amendments.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-50261-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-50261-3
Keywords
- Phytoremediation
- Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH)
Cynodon dactylon
- Rhizosphere microbiome
- Soil contamination
Source: Ecology - nature.com
