Effect of Biostimulation on Biodegradation Rate of Hydrocarbon-Polluted Soil: A Review

Hydrocarbon pollution is a global concern in view of its devastating effect on the natural ecosystem and human health. The severity of the impact has necessitated concerned efforts and plans for control or remediation. One of such strategy for remediation of polluted environment is biostimulation. Biostimulation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach for bioremediation of severely contaminated environment. Hydrocarbons spill reduces soil pH and increases the total hydrocarbon (THC) content. The pH of organic biostimulants are in the alkaline range (7.00-11.2), which make them good acidic soil neutralizer. Addition of biostimulant increases pH (reduce acidity), enabling biodegradation and hydrocarbon reduction by hydrocarbonistic microorganisms and also making the hydrocarbon pollutant more bioavailable. This paper presents a review on the strategy of biostimulation and its effect on pH, biodegradation rate and percent hydrocarbon reduction in oil polluted soil. It equally highlights the advantages and pitfalls of biostimulation, and noted that it may lead to bioaccumulation in plant tissues with serious health implications. Omics technology is considered as an upscaling approach to effective biostimulation and bioremediation.

Keywords: Biostimulation, pH, Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Biodegradation, Omics.