Authors: SULEIMAN M.K.; BHAT N.R.

Source: Arid Land Research and Management, Volume 17, Number 2, April-June 2003 , pp. 169-176(8)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

At the conclusion of the Gulf War in 1991, more than 700 gushing wells discharged over 60 million barrels of crude oil, forming nearly 300 oil lakes that covered more than 49 km² of land surface. This contaminated approximately 40 million tons of soil. An additional 700 km² of terrestrial land was contaminated by oily mist fallout. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research successfully tested and standardized bioremediation technology to significantly reduce petroleum oil contaminants in the soil. Preliminary results suggested that the bioremediated soil was capable of supporting plant growth without adverse effects. In the present study, growth of a number of ornamental plants in bioremediated soil was compared with that in normal agricultural soil to assess the suitability of bioremediated soil for use in landscape/greenery projects in Kuwait. Results indicated that the bioremediated soil did not affect the establishment of test plants, but influenced their growth to varying extents. Height increments in the bioremediated soil during the first 12 months in Dalbergia sissoo, Prosopis chiliensis, Olea europaea, Parkinsonia aculeata, and Conocarpus lancifolius was 6.2 to 72.9% higher than those in agricultural soil. In contrast, it adversely affected the height growth in Callistemin viminalis and Acacia acuminata and had no influence on plant height in Pithecellobium dulce. The average height increment in three shrubs (Clerodendron inerme, Bougainvillea glabra, and Vitex negundo) out of the six shrubs tested in the study, was two to three times higher in bioremediated soil than in agricultural soil. Growths were adversely affected in the three others (Bougainvillea sp., Simmondsia chinensis and Thevitia nerifolia). Based on the growth data, ornamental plants tested in the study were grouped into three categories: the first group consisted of plants whose growth was promoted in bioremediated soil; the second group included plants whose growth was not affected; and the third group comprised species that were sensitive to petroleum oil pollutants.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Aridland Agriculture and Greenery Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat, Kuwait

Publication date: 2003-04-01

More about this publication?

• Previously published as Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation
• Information for Authors
• Subscribe to this Title
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Agriculture (General)
• By this author: SULEIMAN M.K. ;  BHAT N.R.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers