You are here:
USE OF EARTHWORMS TO ACCELERATE THE RESTORATION OF OIL AND BRINE IMPACTED SITES
Impact/Purpose:
This project seeks to determine the efficacy of the re-introduction of earthworms to sites which have undergone remediation for crude oil or brine spills in order to accelerate the restoration of these sites in terms of soil quality and plant biomass and species diversity. Specifically we will examine the effects of three treatment variables: earthworms, organic matter, and fertilizer, on the restoration of the two sites referenced above. This will be a two-year project. In the first year measures of soil quality will be the primary indicators of restoration. These measures will include microbial community structure and diversity in terms of phospholipid fatty acid analysis, soil nutrient concentrations, numbers of nitrogen cycling bacteria, nematode numbers and trophic diversity, and earthworm numbers and reproductive status. After earthworms are introduced, no further disturbance of the test plots will be allowed except for sampling. Therefore, some re-vegetation of the plots may occur in the first year. If so, plant biomass and species diversity will be determined at the end of the first growing season. In the second year, plant biomass and species diversity will be added as measures of restoration. All data will be analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). These data are anticipated to lead to a cost-effective protocol for re-introduction and cultivation of earthworms in remediated oil and brine impacted sites and demonstrate the benefits of re-introduction on restoration and re- vegetation of these sites in terms of plant biomass and species diversity. The results of this work can be readily introduced to independent producers, landowners, and the regulatory community in an easily understood manner through IPEC's technology transfer program.
Description:
The restoration of soil ecosystems following remediation of oil and brine spills can be a lengthy process. This project has investigated the efficacy of the re-introduction of earthworms to sites which have undergone remediation for crude oil or brine spills in order to accelerate the restoration of these sites in terms of soil quality and plant biomass and species diversity. Specifically this project examined the effects of three treatment variables: earthworms, organic matter, and fertilizer, on the restoration of the two sites, a remediated crude oil spill and a remediatied brine spill. This study has shown that earthworms can readily be reintroduced to these types of sites resulting in significant improvments in soil fertility in an economical manner.