Long-term legacy of phytoremediation on plant succession and soil microbial communities in petroleum-contaminated sub-Arctic soils

Abstract

Phytoremediation can be a cost-effective method of restoring contaminated soils using plants and associated microorganisms. Most studies follow the impacts of phytoremediation solely across the treatment period and have not explored long-term ecological effects. In 1995, a phytoremediation study was initiated near Fairbanks, Alaska, to determine how the introduction of annual grasses and/or fertilizer would influence degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs). After 1 year, grass and/or fertilizer-treated soils showed greater decreases in PHC concentrations compared to untreated plots. The site was then left for 15 years with no active site management. In 2011, we re-examined the site to explore the legacy of phytoremediation on contaminant disappearance, as well as on plant and soil microbial ecology. We found that the recruited vegetation and the current bulk soil microbial community structure and functioning were all heavily influenced by initial phytoremediation treatment. The number of diesel-degrading microorganisms (DDMs) was positively correlated with the percentage cover of vegetation at the site, which was influenced by initial treatment. Even 15 years later, the initial use of fertilizer had significant effects on microbial biomass, community structure, and activity. We conclude that phytoremediation treatment has long-term, legacy effects on the plant community, which, in turn, impact microbial community structure and functioning. It is therefore important to consider phytoremediation strategies that not only influence site remediation rates in the short-term but also prime the site for the restoration of vegetation over the long-term.