Impact of organic amendments on the development of 14C-phenanthrene catabolism in soil

Omoni, V.T. and Lag-Brotons, A.J. and Semple, K.T. (2020) Impact of organic amendments on the development of 14C-phenanthrene catabolism in soil. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 151: 104991. ISSN 0964-8305

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Abstract

This study investigated the impact of spent brewery grains and spent mushroom compost on the development of phenanthrene biodegradation in soil. Two aspects were considered: (i) the influence of increasing waste-to-soil ratios (1:10, 1:5, 1:2, 1:1 & 2:1) and (ii) the impact of soil-PAH contact time (1–100 d). Biodegradation was quantified by measuring changes in the lag phase, the fastest rates and extents of mineralization of 14C-phenanthrene, as well as changes in the number of total heterotrophic and phenanthrene degrading bacteria and fungi. The amendment of smaller amounts of the wastes (1:10 & 1:5) resulted in greatest levels of biodegradation. Microbial numbers increased in all of the amended soils but phenanthrene-degrading numbers in most amended soils did not correlate with the rates and extents of 14C-phenanthrene mineralization. This investigation highlighted the value of waste organic materials as nutrient sources to stimulate microbial degradation of contaminants in soil.