title: Influence of Oil Contamination on Physical and Biological Properties of Forest Soil After Chainsaw Use.
abstract: Forestry works using chainsaws result in up to 7 million liters of various mineral oils being soaked annually into forest soils. These substances, containing a complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are highly toxic. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of oil contamination with PAHs on the physical and biological properties of forest soils. The study area was located in southern Poland in the Miechów forest district. The experiment was conducted on four treatment blocks with various amounts of oil addition. The study included the determination of PAH content, dehydrogenase and urease activity, and biomass of earthworms. Physical properties were determined using the dryer method and Kopecky rings of 250 cm3volume. The results obtained confirmed the hypothesis that oil contamination with PAHs modified the physical properties of forest soils and oil had a negative impact on enzyme activity in soil. Enzyme activity in the studied soils was negatively correlated with PAH content. Earthworm population density reflected the contamination level of oil-contaminated soils.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Engineering, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klamerus-Iwan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Soil, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Błońska
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Soil, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lasota
authors.affiliation: The F. Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, ul. Niezapominajek 21, 30-233 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalandyk
authors.affiliation: The F. Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, ul. Niezapominajek 21, 30-233 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waligórski
keywords: Earthworms; Enzyme activity; Mechanization in forestry; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Principal component analysis (PCA)