Evaluating the metabolic functional profiles of the microbial community and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) traits affected by the presence of carbon nanotubes and antimony in drained and waterlogged sediments

Biodegradable Microplastics Affect the Wheatgrass Traits, Fe Plaque Development Involved in Sb Accumulation, and Microbial Community Functions in Antimony-Contaminated Riparian Wetlands

“…Meanwhile, the Sb concentrations in soils near Xikuangshan could reach up to 135–1547 mg kg –1 . , Sb contamination has shown adverse impacts on the geochemical properties of soils, plant traits, and microbial communities resulting in environmental issues and health risks. , Zhong et al indicated that the presence of Sb (potassium antimony tartrate) in soil (1402 mg kg –1 ) resulted in no statistical decrease in the root length and seedling height, but the fresh weights of roots and shoots were significantly inhibited . Similar results were observed in our previous reports where both Sb­(III) and Sb­(V) (1 g kg –1 ) showed no significant impacts on the root length . However, Sb­(III) led to great inhibition effects but Sb­(V) presented significant promotion effects on plant dry biomass .…”

“…Detailed setting protocols and abbreviations for different treatments are shown in Table and Table S2. The Sb concentration exposed in each microcosm was 0.75 mg g –1 (dry weight) according to our previous studies. ,, According to Table S1, the Sb concentration in the control was 10.53 × 10 –3 mg g –1 (0.01053 mg g –1 ), while the Sb concentrations in other treatments were 0.761 mg g –1 after artificial amendment with 0.75 mg g –1 Sb. According to the report by Sforzini et al , the expected concentration of mulch film residues in soil was ∼0.0063% .…”

“…After termination by sodium dithionite (Na 2 S 2 O 4 ), the extract solution was digested to determine the Fe and Sb concentrations (Sb plaque) in iron plaque (Fe plaque) by ICP-MS. The shoots and roots after DCB extraction were freeze-dried and digested with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid (HNO 3 ) solution and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 , 30%, v/v). ,, Sb contents in plant tissues were analyzed via ICP-MS.…”

“…The influence of MPs and Sb on the microbial communities was evaluated using Biolog EcoPlates, which contain 31 kinds of the most utilizable carbon sources (shown in Table S5). The measurement of microbial functional diversities was performed according to previous reports. , Average well color development (AWCD), an index of the total bioactivity indicating the potential metabolic function of the microbial community, and the substrate average well color development (SAWCD) involved in specific carbon source categories were calculated . In addition, the Shannon–Weaver diversity, Audair and Goff, Shannon evenness, McIntosh, Margalef, and Gleason indices were calculated to investigate the diversities of bacterial communities. − Criterion importance through the intercriterion correlation (CRITIC) method was used to establish a comprehensive index (the comprehensive index of species diversity, CISD), which could provide the integral evaluation for community-level physiological profiling (CLPP).…”

“…According to previous reports, urease and hydrolase activities in rhizosphere soils were measured. ,, The urease activity was measured at 578 nm by the sodium phenolate–sodium hypochlorite colorimetric method using a UV–vis spectrophotometer. , The urease activity was expressed as NH 4 + –N mg g –1 dry soil 24 h –1 . According to the report by Adam and Duncan, fluorescein diacetate hydrolase (FDAse) activities were determined by the absorbance intensity of formed fluorescein at 490 nm .…”