Remediation Effect of Suaeda Salsa Planting on the Petroleum Hydrocarbon Polluted Coastal Zones

Preliminary Field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phytoremediation for degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated coastal zone of the Bohai Bay located in Tianjin. In this field study, Suaeda salsa, a typical indigenous saline-alkali indicator and saline-alkali tolerance plant, was planted in the study site in March 2004 without fertilizer and management. Petroleum hydrocarbon content and organic matter content were monitored over time. Through the comparison of the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon remnants in the soil before and after planting Suaeda salsa the remediation effect was determined. After 33 months, the petroleum hydrocarbon content of the planting Suaeda salsa positions has considerably been decreased. The petroleum hydrocarbon degradation rate of these positions was obviously higher than that of the control. Suaeda salsa grew very well and the coverage rate of the study site is more than 60% and the vegetation has gradually got restored. The results indicate that this plant helps to reduce the petroleum hydrocarbon-pollution to the saline-alkali soil, and restores the petroleum hydrocarbon- contaminated coastal zone.