ESTCP Project #1011, Rhizosphere
Final Report
Table 1. Performance objectives.
Type of
Primary
Expected Performance
Actual Performance Objective Met?
Performance
Performance
(Metric)
Objective
Criteria
Vegetation
Visual inspection of plots
Yes
Qualitative
established on plots
following seeding and
fertilizing
Relate success of
Use statistically valid time-
Yes. Using biomarker and growing
Quantitative
bioremediation to
series samples to develop
degree-day normalized data, statistical
contaminant
equations to describe
significance was shown for planted plots
degradation kinetics
relative to un-planted plots.
Relate microbial
Measure degrader numbers
Yes at Annette Island site. Significant
changes to
via MPN methods
effects at one of three sites. Microbial
degradation
data support chemical data results.
processes
Evaluate microbial
Use selective media
Yes at Annette Island site, significant
population levels
techniques to compare
changes in fungal and microbial
and composition
fungal and bacterial
populations were related to plant and
populations
fertilizer treatments, respectively. At
Barrow, plants increased the amount of
fungal biomarkers relative to non-planted
treatments.
Reduce contaminant
Rate of degradation
Contaminant depletion rates, biomarker
concentration
and growing-degree day normalized
show greater depletion of specific
petroleum fractions relative to unplanted
plots.
Remediate site
Endpoint concentrations
Partial. Data show significantly greater
not expected to become
rates for planted treatments relative to un-
asymptotic
planted treatments. Rhizosphere-enhance
treatment is a long-term treatment
strategy useful to remote sites, large
areas, and locations/situations where
other alternatives do not exist.
3.2 Selecting Test Sites
To include a climatic gradation evaluation of rhizosphere-enhanced bioremediation, we chose
three sites on a south to north gradient of climatic conditions. Sites were selected to maximize
the potential for successful demonstrations and to meet DoD requirements associated with
ESTCP. We based our selection on the following criteria:
1. For maximizing future application and to gain the most information from the
demonstrations, we sought three sites, each in a different climatic zone in Alaska.
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