Journal of Environmental Biology

Phytoremediation of crude oil contaminated soil using nut grass,

Cyperus rotundus

Author Details

Budhadev Basumatary (Corresponding author)

Resource Management and Environment Division, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and

Technology, Guwahati-781 035, India

e-mail: budhabasumatary@yahoo.com

Rubul Saikia

Resource Management and Environment Division, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati-781 035, India

Sabitry Bordoloi

Resource Management and Environment Division, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and

Technology, Guwahati-781 035, India

Publication Data

Paper received:

11 November 2010

Revised received:

20 September 2011

Re-revised received:

29 October 2011

Re-re-revised received:

29 November 2011

Accepted:

22 December 2011

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Cyperus rotundus (nut grass), that could be effective in phytoremediation of crude oil contaminated soil. A net house experiment was conducted with different concentrations (2.05, 4.08, 6.1, 8.15 and 10.2%) of crude oil-contaminated soil for 180 days. Plant growth, biomass, total oil and grease (TOG) degradation and microbial numbers were analyzed at different intervals i.e. 60, 120 and 180 days in different percentages of crude oil contaminated soil. In presence of crude oil, plant biomass and heights reduced up to 26 and 21.9% respectively. Concerning TOG content in soil, C. rotundus could decrease up to 50.01, 46.1, 42.6, 38.8 and 32.6% in treatment I, II, III, IV and V respectively in vegetated pots during 180 days. In case of unvegetated pots, the reductions of TOG were 4.4, 5.6, 6.6, 7.6 and 9.6% in treatment A, B, C, D and E respectively. However, there was significant degradation (P=0.05) of TOG in vegetated pots in comparison to unvegetated pots thereby proving the efficacy of this plant species for use in phytoremediation.

Key words

Crude oil, Phytoremediation, Cyperus rotundus

Copyright ? 2012 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).