Effect and mechanism of Rice-Solanum nigrum L. rotation system inoculated with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) for the remediation of Cd-contaminated paddy soil
This study proposes a Rice-Solanum nigrum L. rotation system inoculated with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), providing an innovative solution for the remediation of Cadmium (Cd)-contaminated paddy soil (Cd ≤ 5 mg/kg) in the global paddy-upland rotation area. In rice season, inoculation of SRB and Polycaprolactone-Corn starch (PCCS) carbon source reduced the Cd accumulation in rice grains, chaff, stems, leaves, and roots by 71 %, 77 %, 80 %, and 67 %, respectively, compared to the control group. The indigenous typical SRB (genus Clostridium) occupied a dominant ecological niche by accepting electron donors from PCCS, increasing Clostridium's relative abundance to 29 %-46 %. Clostridium reduced the bioavailable Cd in soil by 37 %. It prevented Cd from transferring from soil to rice roots through sulfide-Cd co-precipitation, Cd absorption pathway competition, and induced root surface iron plaque formation. In the Solanum nigrum L. season, inoculation of indigenous SOB flora (82 % genus Sulfobacillus) reduced the soil pH through sulfur oxidation, which increased the bioavailability of Cd. It increased the Cd extraction efficiency in the plant by 9∼42 %. Based on the results of a one-cycle rotation experiment, the Rice-Solanum nigrum L. rotation system inoculated with SRB and SOB has the potential to achieve safe production of rice while ensuring the removal of Cd in the soil. Overall, the Rice-Solanum nigrum L. rotation system is a promising technology with both economic and environmental benefits, but multi-cycle rotation experiments are necessary to further evaluate the long-term impacts.