Plant Germination as an Indicator of Soil Pollution by Petroleum Hydrocarbons

The possibility of using the parameter of test-crop germination to determine soil contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons in areas with low anthropogenic load is shown. The significance of the choice of a test-crop sensitive to hydrocarbon pollution and quality control of seed material is noted. The possibility of using the parameter of oat germination to determine soil pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons in the course of a model experiment consisting in germination of test-crop seeds in soils with given concentrations of pollutants has been evaluated. It is concluded that the parameter of test-crop germination can be used to establish low levels of soil contamination with hydrocarbons.