Combined application of biochar, compost, and bacterial consortia with Italian ryegrass enhanced phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil

The highest hydrocarbon removal (85%) was observed in spiked soil amended with compost, biochar and consortia. Bacterial inoculation with biochar and compost showed significantly higher hydrocarbon degradation as compared to all other treatments. Highest TPHs degrading bacteria (5.74 × 107 cells g−1 of soil) were observed in rhizosphere of spiked soil amended with compost, biochar and consortia. The organic amendments improved plant growth and bacterial count in rhizosphere which resulted in higher removal of hydrocarbons. We concluded that plant-microbe interactions together with the organic soil amendments offer an emerging trend for remediation of hydrocarbons. Rhizoremediation is a green solution to overcome the quandary of total petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in soil.