Mineral‐solubilizing microbial inoculants facilitate the rejuvenation of soil multifunctionality and plant growth at abandoned mine sites

• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.4926
• Publication Date: 2023-09-22T00:20:04Z
• Authors: Chong Li; Zhaohui Jia; Yingzhou Tang; Shuifeng Zhang; Tao Li; Shilin Ma; Hui Nie; Lu Zhai; Bo Zhang; Xin Liu; Jinchi Zhang; Christoph Müller
• Keywords: Beneficial organism

Abstract The mining industry continues to have considerable adverse effects on ecosystems, which necessitates the development of robust and effective strategies for remediation abandoned mine sites. One such approach involves integration mineral‐solubilizing microorganisms into existing external soil spray seeding technologies. These capacity reduce mineral particle sizes, stimulate plant growth, facilitate release essential nutrients. Despite potential benefits microbial inoculants, their impacts overall multifunctionality communities, associations with diversity, multifunctionality, growth remain largely unknown. To bridge these knowledge gaps, we conducted a 1‐year greenhouse experiment, involved comprehensive assessment various parameters including nutrients, enzyme activities, functional gene copies, communities. Our findings unveiled that application inoculants led significant augmentation multifunctionality. Additionally, increased relative abundances Bacilli (class), Bacillales (order), Bacillaceae (family), Bacillus (genus). While no relationship emerged between alpha diversity our investigation found positive correlations groups, keystone ecological cluster, Furthermore, results suggested indirect impact was primarily channeled indirectly through influence Bacilli, as opposed changes in bacterial or fungal diversity. Overall, study underscores significance rejuvenation sites, while providing valuable insights future research aimed at optimizing efficacy techniques.