Promoting soil management ways: Bioelectrochemical technology

Abstract

Electron transport derived from microbial self-generation or consumption is a fundamental oxidation–reduction force for matter transformation and energy communication. The most abundant quantity and species of microorganisms are present in soil, and the ecological functions of microbial electron transfer coupled with soil evolution processes as well as the main element cycles have received increasing attention. Developing soil bioelectrochemical system (BES) is a convenient and efficient approach for the sustainable management of soil environment. In this review, the effects of element transformations, including carbon, nitrogen, iron, and sulfur, were examined, with a primary focus on the efficiency of a soil BES in monitoring biocurrent conduction. Moreover, the factors affecting the soil BES were summarized from the perspective of physical, chemical and biological processes. The ecological functions of soil biocurrent conduction for removing pollutants, amending alkaline acidification, desalination, detoxifying heavy metals, reducing methane emissions, and increasing soil fertility were subsequently reviewed. Finally, knowledge gaps and perspectives involving the identification of electroactive microorganisms, electron transport pathways, the regulation of element cycles, and key applications of soil BES were proposed. Overall, soil BES would provide versatile support to improve the environmental control approach and agricultural sustainability.