Phytoremediation Efficiency of Weathered Petroleum-Contaminated Soils by Vetiveria zizanioides and Cymbopogon nardus itle †

Abstract

Weathered petroleum-contaminated soil was treated with Vetiveria zizanioides (Vetiver) and Cymbopogon nardus (Lemongrasss) to investigate the efficiency of phytoremediation. The initial total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration of soil was 3000−8000 mg/kg, and after 6 months, the TPH concentrations were degraded by 50−75% under the action of soil native microbial. Planting vetiver and lemongrass stabilized soil pH and electrical conductivity, and it accelerated the decomposition of TPH in soil. Planting vetiver showed a better effect. After 6 months of planting, the TPH decomposition efficiency reached about 90%, and most of the easily decomposed TPH has been decomposed. The results of rhizosphere soil microbiota analysis also showed that planting vetiver increased the abundance of soil microbiota.