Bio-remediation and physicochemical interaction of experimentally contaminated soils in Uganda with diesel.

This study was conducted for a period of 4 weeks to monitor and evaluate the process of bio-stimulation and natural recovery rates in terms of bacteria and fungi communities to diesel contaminated soils. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to measure pH, moisture content, Potassium (K), Phosphorous (P), Organic Nitrogen (ON), Organic Carbon (OC), Organic Matter (OM), fungi and bacteria cells before and after soils were intentionally contaminated with diesel. The results of this study showed that treatment level, K, P and pH have a positive effect on the number of bacterial cells whereas moisture content, sand and clay particles impact negatively. A correlation coefficient of R 2 = -0.93 was obtained between time and OC, OM, ON while OC, OM, ON and bacteria showed an R 2 = -0.58. Three conclusions can be drawn based on this study. One, by week 4, bacterial cells counts had doubled. Two, by week 4, bacterial counts numerically outnumbered fungal cells. Three, the increase in both bacterial and fungal cells was accompanied with a decrease in OM, OC and ON. This means that both bacterial and fungal cells had adapted by week 4.