Contamination of soils artificially polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soils aged polluted with crude oil in the phytoremediation process were compared. The plant used in the tests was maize (Zea mays L.). In chamber tests with soils artificially polluted (chernozem, calcareous rendzina, and lessives), selected three PAHs (anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene) were used at the doses of 100, 500, and 1000 mg·kg^-1 d.m. of soil and diesel fuel at the doses of 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% (v/v). The soil naturally, aged polluted with crude oil chosen for the experiment was brown soil from crude oil refinery. Additionally, in the bioremediation process, the inoculation of plants with the mixture of bacteria strains Azospirillum and Pseudomonas stutzeri was used in the amount of 1 ml·500 g^-1 of soil. Chamber pot-tests were carried out in controlled conditions (temperature, humidity) during four weeks of plant growth period. Physical properties of soils polluted with PAHs, diesel fuel, and crude oil and the degree of PAHs degradation were analyzed in the study. The amounts of anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene were determined in soils artificially polluted and Σ15 PAHs in soils artificially polluted with diesel fuel, as well as in brown soil aged polluted with crude oil. The obtained results showed a statistically important increase in the physical properties of soils polluted with PAHs, diesel fuel, and crude oil compared with the control and also an important decrease in the content of PAHs in soils (both artificially and aged polluted) inoculated with Azospirillum and Pseudomonas stutzeri after maize growth. The bioremediation processes were especially intensive in calcareous rendzina artificially polluted with PAHs and in brown soil aged polluted with crude oil.

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