Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols

Abstract Elucidating the impact of rhizosphere interactions on soil heavy metal accumulation and speciation is essential for accurately assessing heavy metal bioavailability and remediating contaminated soils. The rhizosphere effects of wheat on soil organic matter (SOM) content, pH levels, and Cd f...

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Main Authors: Lifen Li, Yinxin Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14241-3
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author Lifen Li
Yinxin Ma
author_facet Lifen Li
Yinxin Ma
author_sort Lifen Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Elucidating the impact of rhizosphere interactions on soil heavy metal accumulation and speciation is essential for accurately assessing heavy metal bioavailability and remediating contaminated soils. The rhizosphere effects of wheat on soil organic matter (SOM) content, pH levels, and Cd fractions in two Cd-contaminated soils, Ultisols (red soil) and Alfisols (yellow cinnamon soil), were studied through pot experiments using root bags. The results indicated that the rhizosphere of the red soil had a higher SOM content but a lower pH than the bulk soil. Conversely, the yellow cinnamon soil exhibited lower SOM and higher pH in the rhizosphere relative to the bulk soil. Meanwhile, Tessier sequential extraction identified Fe/Mn oxide-bound Cd (Fe/Mn-Cd; rhizosphere: 23.2%–50.7%, bulk: 35.9%–55.1%) and exchangeable Cd (Ex-Cd; rhizosphere: 31.6%–40.3%, bulk: 24.6%–33.7%) as the dominant fractions in the red soil. Similarly, the yellow cinnamon soil exhibited predominant fractions of Fe/Mn-Cd (rhizosphere: 22.4%–27.3%, bulk: 48.5%–55.9%), Ex-Cd (rhizosphere: 18.3%–49.6%, bulk: 17.5%–20.4%), and carbonate-bound Cd (Ca-Cd; rhizosphere: 8.9%–37.2%, bulk: 8.9%–20.5%). Furthermore, wheat roots tended to enhance the accumulation of Ca-Cd and residual Cd (Re-Cd) fractions, particularly under high Cd stress. Conversion sources varied by soil type: in the red soil, the primary sources were Ex-Cd and Fe/Mn-Cd, with rhizosphere processes dominated by SOM and bulk soil dynamics regulated by SOM and pH. In the yellow cinnamon soil, the sources included Ex-Cd, Fe/Mn-Cd, and OM-Cd, with rhizosphere transformations governed by SOM and bulk soil mechanisms controlled by pH. The findings are crucial for assessing Cd contamination in soil-plant environments and developing tailored phytostabilization approaches for Cd in specific soil types.
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spelling doaj-art-400c0c1488c94d8199c38e5fa2059efa2025-08-20T03:46:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-14241-3Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisolsLifen Li0Yinxin Ma1Anhui Xiang’an Environmental Protection Corporation LtdCollege of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural UniversityAbstract Elucidating the impact of rhizosphere interactions on soil heavy metal accumulation and speciation is essential for accurately assessing heavy metal bioavailability and remediating contaminated soils. The rhizosphere effects of wheat on soil organic matter (SOM) content, pH levels, and Cd fractions in two Cd-contaminated soils, Ultisols (red soil) and Alfisols (yellow cinnamon soil), were studied through pot experiments using root bags. The results indicated that the rhizosphere of the red soil had a higher SOM content but a lower pH than the bulk soil. Conversely, the yellow cinnamon soil exhibited lower SOM and higher pH in the rhizosphere relative to the bulk soil. Meanwhile, Tessier sequential extraction identified Fe/Mn oxide-bound Cd (Fe/Mn-Cd; rhizosphere: 23.2%–50.7%, bulk: 35.9%–55.1%) and exchangeable Cd (Ex-Cd; rhizosphere: 31.6%–40.3%, bulk: 24.6%–33.7%) as the dominant fractions in the red soil. Similarly, the yellow cinnamon soil exhibited predominant fractions of Fe/Mn-Cd (rhizosphere: 22.4%–27.3%, bulk: 48.5%–55.9%), Ex-Cd (rhizosphere: 18.3%–49.6%, bulk: 17.5%–20.4%), and carbonate-bound Cd (Ca-Cd; rhizosphere: 8.9%–37.2%, bulk: 8.9%–20.5%). Furthermore, wheat roots tended to enhance the accumulation of Ca-Cd and residual Cd (Re-Cd) fractions, particularly under high Cd stress. Conversion sources varied by soil type: in the red soil, the primary sources were Ex-Cd and Fe/Mn-Cd, with rhizosphere processes dominated by SOM and bulk soil dynamics regulated by SOM and pH. In the yellow cinnamon soil, the sources included Ex-Cd, Fe/Mn-Cd, and OM-Cd, with rhizosphere transformations governed by SOM and bulk soil mechanisms controlled by pH. The findings are crucial for assessing Cd contamination in soil-plant environments and developing tailored phytostabilization approaches for Cd in specific soil types.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14241-3Cd fractionRhizosphere effectWheatUltisolsAlfisols
spellingShingle Lifen Li
Yinxin Ma
Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols
Scientific Reports
Cd fraction
Rhizosphere effect
Wheat
Ultisols
Alfisols
title Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols
title_full Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols
title_fullStr Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols
title_full_unstemmed Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols
title_short Rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils: a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols
title_sort rhizosphere effects on cadmium fractionation in contaminated soils a comparative study of ultisols and alfisols
topic Cd fraction
Rhizosphere effect
Wheat
Ultisols
Alfisols
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14241-3
work_keys_str_mv AT lifenli rhizosphereeffectsoncadmiumfractionationincontaminatedsoilsacomparativestudyofultisolsandalfisols
AT yinxinma rhizosphereeffectsoncadmiumfractionationincontaminatedsoilsacomparativestudyofultisolsandalfisols