Long term natural restoration creates soil‐like microbial communities in bauxite residue: A 50‐year filed study

• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.3728
• Publication Date: 2020-07-22T14:32:20Z
• Authors: Hao Wu; Tian Tang; Feng Zhu; Xiaomeng Wei; William Hartley; Shengguo Xue
• Keywords: 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Abstract Ecological reconstruction on bauxite residue (tailings) disposal areas is regarded as an effective approach to eliminate potential environmental risks. Establishment of microbial communities and associated functions may improve physical chemical properties, stimulate soil formation in residue. Spontaneous colonization at a area Shandong Province, China, over 50 years, indicated that natural weathering can ameliorate residues, turn, support the establishment vegetation communities. Residue samples were collected from unrestored, poorly restored well investigate development functions. Microbiota significantly developed after long term restoration. Microbial biomass, respiration enzyme activities increased residue, whereas metabolic quotient decreased. In addition, long‐term restoration shaped structure alkalophilic halophilic assemblages (Firmicutes Actinobacteria) neutrophilic (Acidobacteria Planctomycetes). Both had high similarity with soil, indicating created diverse soil‐like Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed TN, followed by Na + , ESP, SOC, AP pH major influence factors These findings provide us biogeochemical perspective reveal suggest nutrient supplement regulation salinity‐alkalinity benefit for