| Soils in and around wood treating facilities may contain high concentrations of creosote and pentachlorophenol. Ryegrass (Lolium temulentum; Marshall Ryegrass Variety) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa; Alfagraze Variety) were tested in a greenhouse setting to determine if these plants would enhance the degradation of selected creosote constituents and pentachlorophenol. Creosote and pentachlorophenol were tested independently using both plant species. All soils were tested on 0, 45, and 90 days of the trials. The results of both the ryegrass and alfalfa studies indicated no significant decrease in creosote concentration by day ninety compared to unplanted soil controls. In the pentachlorophenol studies, neither ryegrass nor alfalfa seeds germinated in the higher concentration. At the lower concentration (70 ppm), both ryegrass and alfalfa showed moderate germination, but no plant biomass was produced. |
