The microbial communities and their degradative potential in rhizospheres of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and reed (Phragmites australis) and in unplanted soil in response to bitumen contamination of soil were studied in pot experiments. According to the results of fluorescence microscopy, over a period of 27 months, bitumen contamination of soil reduced the total number of microorganisms more significantly (by 75%) in unplanted than in rhizosphere soil (by 42% and 7% for reed and alfalfa, respectively) and had various effects on some important physiological groups of microorganisms such as actinomycetes as well as nitrogen-fixing, nitrifying, denitrifying, ammonifying, phosphate-solubilizing, sulphur-oxidizing, cellulolytic and hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. The changes in the physiological structure of the microbial community under bitumen contamination were found to hinge on not merely the presence of plants but also their type. It was noted that the rhizosphere microflora of alfalfa was less inhibited by hydrocarbon pollution and had a higher degradative potential than the rhizosphere microflora of reed.

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In order to further the development of plant-based remediation of sites contaminated by carbo-chemical and petro-chemical industries, the penetration of the roots of Phragmites australis in contaminated soil substrate was studied in model trials. The series of experiments contained model substrate with firm bitumen and tar. In terms of the level of root penetration, the roots and rhizomes penetrated equally through the middle of the pot and at the edges as well as coming up through the bottom. There were differences between the density of the root systems in the topsoil of the two variations, with the roots in the sample with a 3.5-cm bitumen layer being more dense. The experiment also showed that shallow rooting plants can penetrate thick barriers and are suitable for planting in contaminated areas. In the subsoil zone, which contained many roots, a reduction of up to 85% in the MOH content was observed. In a second series of long-term pot experiments, the stimulation of hydrocarbon remediation by Phragmites australis, Alnus glutinosa, and Robinia pseudoacacia was studied. In the subsoil zone, which contained many roots, a reduction of up to 64% in the hydrocarbon content was determined. In the comparison between the cropped and noncropped treatments, the decontamination ratio was up to 40% higher in the cropped pots than in the pots without plants. For a determination of microbial activity, two enzymes (catalase, ß-glucosidase) and microbial biomass were measured. Variants with plants showed higher microbial activities than uncropped pots. By increasing "biostimulation," pollution and also the leaching of pollutants can be reduced.

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