Date of Award:

5-1-1981

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Life Sciences:Biology

Committee Chair(s)

John J. Skujins

Committee

John J. Skujins

Committee

Frederick J. Post

Committee

Jon Takemoto

Abstract

The biological degradation of waste oil in an arid soil was studied at the 16 ha EPA oil disposal site near Ogden Bay Wildlife Refuge, Utah. Upon addition of oil and fertilizer (N, P) amendments, the hydrocarbon and lipolytic utilizing microbial populations increased to 108g-1 soil. Decreases in numbers of these populations correlated with the decrease in amount of residual oil in the soil. Changes in actinomycetes, carbohydrate utilizers, fungi, and anaerobic bacterial populations were not significantly correlated with oil degradation. Increases in species known to be hydrocarbon utilizers (Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus) were noted upon application and degradation of oil, but no specific patterns of species changes were evident. Soil respiration (CO2 evolution) was positively correlated to microbial activity, quantity of nitrogen amendment, and the oil degradation rate. Decrease in soil nitrogen was correlated with oil degradation rate, indicating the occurrence of nitrification-denitrification during the degradation process. Biological oil degradation in soil occurred during seasonal periods of water availability and elevated temperatures, and was aided by additions of nitrogen fertilizer to maintain an optimal soil C:N in ratio. Ninety-one percent of the applied oil was degraded in four years.

Download

Share

COinS

Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .