Resumen

ZAMORA, Alejandra; RAMOS, Jesús  y  ARIAS, Marianela. Effect of oil pollution on chemical and microbiological properties of a savanna soil. Bioagro [online]. 2012, vol.24, n.1, pp.5-12. ISSN 1316-3361.

The spill of petroleum hydrocarbons to soil has significant impacts on microbial activity, affecting ecosystem function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical and microbial changes in a soil contaminated with medium petroleum, and determine the restoration capacity of the functional structure of bacterial communities after an incubation period under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, two microcosms were established and incubated for 120 days: a) control, with uncontaminated soil, and b) oil-contaminated soil to 9 % w/w. Soil chemical characteristics and biochemical characterization of strains were performed at the beginning and end of the experiment. The results indicate that oil pollution increased aluminum saturation and decreased pH, electrical conductivity and cation exchange capacity of the soil, and altered the bacterial community, reducing its functional diversity by selectivity of functional groups. It is concluded that oil pollution affects the functional structure of the community, and although it is not returned to its original condition, the functioning of the ecosystem is not affected in the long term, since the processes keep occurring.

Palabras clave : Bacterial communities; functional diversity; functional groups.