Two different bioremediation strategies, namely soil bioaugmentation
by means of the addition of a mycelial suspension of
a Trichoderma sp. strain and soil biostimulation through the
dispersion of a commercial formulation to enhance the native soil
hydrocarbonoclastic microbial community by simply adjusting soil
nutrients, were compared in this study to verify the bio-treatability
of wildfire generated toxic hydrocarbons (BTEX, LMW PAHs and
C12-40 hydrocarbon fraction). Efficacy of the aforementioned approaches
was evaluated with respect to the natural attenuation (no
soil treatments) in three contiguous parcels cordoned off within a
woodland located in Northern Italy (Pezzaze municipality, Brescia,
Lombardy) and recently impacted by wildfire. The experimental
plots were then monitored throughout the further nine months to
figure out the dynamics of decay in soil concentration of toxic hydrocarbon
compounds, due to the adoption of the different remediation
strategies.