ABSTRACT
The sub-objectives that guided the work were the determination of plant species needed to establish vegetation and enhance bioremediation in moderately contaminated soils and the definition of the rhizosphere characteristics that limit or enhance contaminant biodegradation. Results indicated that the soil was a sandy loam with normal characteristics and was generally supportive of plant growth. Seed germination studies were conducted using readily available seeds grown in the site test soil. Additional information regarding the statistical methods and results is presented in the final report. The presence of plants resulted in a statistically significant enhancement of dissipation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in the soil when compared with un-vegetated controls. Biodegradation by active microbial populations was indicated as the primary mechanism for decrease in TPH and PAH in this field test. The rate of degradation in all plots did not diminish during the 2-year period of the field demonstration.
