ABSTRACT
Bioremediation has become an important tool for cleanup of contaminated soils. An exceptionally controversial aspect of the work is bioaugmentation; the addition of microorganisms to the soil. The presence of large numbers of appropriate microorganisms is certainly key to successful bioremediation. But if these are not present, what is the best means for providing them? The establishment of a successful culture of microorganisms in a natural soil is a challenging task. Van Veen et al. (1997) noted "the general obstinacy of the soil ecosystem, which normally acts as a buffer against incoming microorganisms."
