Soil Dehydrogenases as an Indicator of Contamination of the Environment with Petroleum Products

The aim of the research was to compare the effects of various petroleum products, biodiesel, diesel oil, fuel oil and unleaded petrol on soil dehydrogenases, and to evaluate biostimulation with compost and urea in the restoration of homeostasis of the soil contaminated with these products. The obtained results allowed for defining the weight of dehydrogenases in monitoring of the environment subjected to pressure from petroleum hydrocarbons. The studies were carried out under laboratory conditions for 180 days, and loamy sand was the soil formation used in the experiment. The petroleum products were used in the following amounts: 0, 2, 4, 8 and 16 g kg(−1) DM of soil. Indices of the influence of the petroleum product and the stimulating substance on the activity of dehydrogenases were calculated. It was proved that the petroleum products affect soil dehydrogenases in various ways. Biodiesel, diesel oil and fuel oil stimulate these enzymes, while petrol acts as an inhibitor. Among the substances tested regarding biostimulation of soils contaminated with petroleum products, compost is definitely more useful than urea, and therefore, the former should be used for the remediation of such soils. Stimulation of dehydrogenases by compost, both in contaminated and non-contaminated soils, proves that it may accelerate microbiological degradation of petroleum-derived contaminants.