Utilizing Bacteria for Crude Oil-Contaminated Soil Bioremediation and Monitoring Through Tomato Plant Growth

Abstract

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the process of cleaning up crude oil-contaminated soil by using a carefully selected combination of bacteria that are capable of hydrocarbon breakdown. We assessed this bioremediation approach's efficacy by evaluating tomato plant growth and vigour as indications of soil recovery. According to our research, adding hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria significantly enhanced the crude oil's ability to break down in contaminated soil. Over time, the amount of petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil decreased significantly as a result of the bacterial consortium's effective hydrocarbon metabolism. It became out that this bioremediation method was both economically and environmentally viable. Furthermore, we noticed significant improvements in the general health and growth of tomato plants grown in the bioremediated soil. These plants showed signs of excellent soil quality restoration, including higher biomass, enhanced root development, and less stress symptoms. This work highlights the possibility of bacteria-mediated bioremediation as a workable and long-term solution to soil pollution caused by crude oil. Additionally, incorporating plant growth monitoring highlights the ecological benefits of bioremediation as a remediation approach for repairing contaminated ecosystems and provides a useful way to assess the efficacy of bioremediation operations. By using bioremediation to treat soil contamination caused by crude oil, this research supports the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, which is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.