Assessing the Hydrocarbon Tolerance and Phytoremediation Trait of Glycine max L. in Kerosene Spiked Soils

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 11, No. 2, February 2020 | pp. 9–16

DOI: 10.46882/2020/IJC/000136

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Assessing the Hydrocarbon Tolerance and Phytoremediation Trait of Glycine max L. in Kerosene Spiked Soils

Names of Authors: O. F. Olawal¹, J. de Koning²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
²Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Abstract: The accidental leakage of kerosene fuel from commercial storage tanks damages agricultural soil porosity and introduces toxic aromatic hydrocarbons into arable land, demanding green restoration strategies. This controlled study investigates the growth kinetics and remediation efficiency of Glycine max L. (Soybean) cultivated in soils artificially spiked with varying concentrations of industrial kerosene oil (1.0% to 4.0% w/w). Plant structural indices, remaining soil total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations, and root zone microbial populations were quantified over a 90-day developmental period. Glycine max demonstrated strong physiological tolerance, maintaining high root nodulation indices across all fuel loading levels below 3.0%. Gas Chromatography (GC-FID) profiling showed a 74.2% reduction in soil TPH content within the rhizosphere of cultivated systems, compared to minimal attenuation (22.5%) in unplanted controls. Soil microbiological testing revealed a five-fold expansion of heterotrophic degradation bacteria within the legume root matrix. This confirms that root exudates and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria actively interact to stimulate microbial proliferation, accelerating the degradation of complex petroleum structures in contaminated agricultural terrains.

Keywords: Kerosene fuel; Glycine max; Total petroleum hydrocarbons; Soil phytoremediation; Rhizosphere effect; Legume symbiosis

Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 08, 2019; Revised: July 20, 2019; Accepted: August 15, 2019; Published: February 09, 2020.

Citation: Olawal, O. F., & de Koning, J. (2020). Assessing the Hydrocarbon Tolerance and Phytoremediation Trait of Glycine max L. in Kerosene Spiked Soils. International Journal of Chemistry, 11(2), 9–16.

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