Endogenous and bioaugmented sulphate reduction in calcareous gypsiferous soils

Gypsiferous soils have a high agricultural value, but their utilization is limited by the presence of gypsum that can induce hardpan and vertical crusting. This paper reports on sulphate reduction in this soil type as a basis of a bioremediation technology to remove the gypsum content of calcareous gypsiferous soils. Both the endogenous and bioaugmented sulphate-reducing potential of the soil was assessed in anaerobic batch tests. An endogenous population of sulphate-reducing bacteria was found to be present in the calcareous gypsiferous soil investigated, which could form the basis of both in situ and ex situ bioremediation schemes for this soil type.