| Two six month studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of amendments to soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and sawdust from softwood plywood. The objective of the PCB study was to determine which amendments could enhance biodegradation of Aroclors 1242, 1248, and 1260 and reduce the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). The amendments added were chicken manure, chicken manure plus 1,000 ppm biphenyl, kenaf, and kenaf plus white rot fungus (Phanerochaete chrysosporium). All treatments and control were replicated three times. Contaminated soil and amendments were placed in 1.5 L amber dishes and kept in an environmental chamber. Moisture was adjusted every two days. Samples were collected at 45 day intervals for biological and chemical analysis.In the composting study, sawdust was amended with chicken manure, cow manure, horse manure, cotton gin trash, and inorganic fertilizer and replicated three times. Moisture was provided through precipitation, and the substrate was aerated once or twice per week, depending on the amount of rainfall. Samples were collected at 30 day intervals and analyzed for toxicity and pH. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
