Rhizophagus intraradices combined with Solanum nigrum for the remediation of soil highly contaminated with cadmium

Abstract

Background and aims

There is a risk of high concentration cadmium pollution in farmland near heavy industrial activity areas. The combination of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and hyperaccumulators is a suitable means of remediation. However, the effect of combination on soil biogeochemistry are often overlooked.

Methods

Therefore, we used pot experiments to explore the effects of combined treatments on soil microbial diversity and the driving factors of changes under high Cd pollution.

Result

Results showed that the synergy between Rhizophagus intraradices and Solanum nigrum promoted retention in the root of S. nigrum and diminished the Cd bioavailability in the soil. Furthermore, R. intraradices inoculation successfully rehabilitated the bacterial network adversely affected by Cd contamination, augmenting bacterial α-diversity. R. intraradices effectively mitigates survival pressures on Subgroup_6, 67-14, RB41, and key bacterial genus. Moreover, R. intraradices inoculation led to a significant upswing in soil phosphatase (24.47%) and catalase (34.70%) activities. Additionally, this inoculation engendered heightened nutrient levels and a reduction in soil pH.

Conclusion

Collectively, our study underscores the efficacy of combining R. intraradices with S. nigrum as an strategy for diminishing high Cd pollution in soil while concurrently improving soil health.