Comparing the Effect of Kerosene Pollution on Forest and Industrial Soil Microbial Community

Kerosene is the colorless liquid and slightly heavier than gasoline that specific odor removes after evaporation. Soil and underground water source are contaminated with different pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons. These pollutants have various negative environmental effects on soil and surrounding environment. The aim of this research is to understand the effect of kerosene pollution on two different soils. The two different collected soils include Industrial and Forest soil. Six microcosms were designed. Indeed, each soil has three microcosms: unpolluted microcosm, polluted microcosm, and polluted microcosm with nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphor). Some factors were assayed in each microcosm during 120 day of experiment. These factors include total heterotrophic bacteria, total kerosene degrading bacteria, dehydrogenase enzyme, and kerosene biodegradation. The results of this study show that the highest quantity of heterotrophic bacteria is related to forest soil (6×109). The quantities of kerosene degrading bacteria significantly were lower than heterotrophic bacteria in all soil microcosms. The quantity of kerosene degrading bacteria have decrement pattern until 60th day of experiment, but, after this day, these bacteria have increment pattern. The best dehydrogenase activity between different microcosms is related to polluted microcosm with kerosene except for farmland soil. The highest biodegradation of kerosene in all studied soil belongs to industrial microcosm (95%). Statistical analysis of the results shows that there is a significant correlation between MPN quantity of heterotrophic bacteria and other assayed factrs. Also, forest soil has significant difference with other soils. It may be possible to propose appropriate strategies for bioremediation of different studied soil types using the results obtained in this research.