The rehabilitation of forest soils from Giurgiu County polluted with petroleum

Abstract

Accidental petroleum hydrocarbon leakages or from other products used in the petroleum extraction process represent an important pollution for both the soil and the environment. The rehabilitation of fields used temporary for the extraction of petroleum requires a series of measures and works based on the soil’s physical-chemical properties. The present paper presents the state of soils from three forest field surfaces located in Giurgiu County where probes were installed. Currently, these fields are unrigged. The article then focuses on the improvement and silvotechnical measures and works necessary for the restoration of fields back to the forest sector to which they belong. In most situations, these fields are deranged (excavated, levelled and battered), polluted with hydrocarbons and saline water or with other products used in extraction processes. The restitution of fields from drilling areas back to the forestry circuit implies the application of specific technologies for preparing the field and for improving the soil. This is complemented by the application of special afforestation technologies based on the specific characteristics of both field and soil. In the case of soils weakly-moderately polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons, special rehabilitation or bio-restoration works are necessary in order to obtain their afforestation. These works might consist in mineral fertilisation, organic fertilisation, amendments or scarification.