Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A review
Soil nitrogen (N) transformations control N availability and plant production and pose environmental concerns when N is lost, raising issues such as soil acidification, water contamination, and climate change. Former studies suggested that soil N cycling is chiefly regulated by microbial activity; h...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325001022 |
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| author | Tracy Opande Mengru Kong Di Feng YuHong Wen Nathan Okoth Ali Mohd Yatoo Fatma Mohamed Ameen Khalil Ahmed S. Elrys Lei Meng Jinbo Zhang |
| author_facet | Tracy Opande Mengru Kong Di Feng YuHong Wen Nathan Okoth Ali Mohd Yatoo Fatma Mohamed Ameen Khalil Ahmed S. Elrys Lei Meng Jinbo Zhang |
| author_sort | Tracy Opande |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil nitrogen (N) transformations control N availability and plant production and pose environmental concerns when N is lost, raising issues such as soil acidification, water contamination, and climate change. Former studies suggested that soil N cycling is chiefly regulated by microbial activity; however, emerging evidence indicates that this regulation is disrupted by heavy metal (HM) contamination, which alters microbial communities and enzyme functions critical to N transformations. Environmental factors like soil organic carbon, soil texture, water content, temperature, soil pH, N fertilization, and redox status play significant roles in modulating the response of soil N cycling to HM contamination. This review examines how different HMs affect soil N processes, including N fixation, mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), and immobilization, as well as microbial activities and functional genes related to soil N transformations. The review additionally outlines the impact of HMs on environmental degradation, including the risk of soil N losses (e.g., leaching, runoff, and gaseous emissions) and depletion of soil fertility, thus threatening the sustainability of the ecosystem. The effect of edaphic factors and fertilization on soil N cycling response to HM contamination was also examined. The effect of phytoremediation, a sustainable approach to remediate HM polluted soils, on N cycling was also reviewed. Thus, this review underscores the importance of increasing research and innovative strategies to combat HM pollution’s effects to enhance soil health, boost crop yields, and protect soil stability and productivity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a00581b5dbc6429cb94672c5ab3915ae |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-a00581b5dbc6429cb94672c5ab3915ae2025-02-12T05:30:17ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-01-01290117766Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A reviewTracy Opande0Mengru Kong1Di Feng2YuHong Wen3Nathan Okoth4Ali Mohd Yatoo5Fatma Mohamed Ameen Khalil6Ahmed S. Elrys7Lei Meng8Jinbo Zhang9College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaKing Khalid University, Applied College, Unit of Health Specialties, Basic Sciences and their Applications, Mohayil Asir Abha 61421, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China; Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt; Corresponding authors at: College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan University, Sanya 572025, ChinaSoil nitrogen (N) transformations control N availability and plant production and pose environmental concerns when N is lost, raising issues such as soil acidification, water contamination, and climate change. Former studies suggested that soil N cycling is chiefly regulated by microbial activity; however, emerging evidence indicates that this regulation is disrupted by heavy metal (HM) contamination, which alters microbial communities and enzyme functions critical to N transformations. Environmental factors like soil organic carbon, soil texture, water content, temperature, soil pH, N fertilization, and redox status play significant roles in modulating the response of soil N cycling to HM contamination. This review examines how different HMs affect soil N processes, including N fixation, mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), and immobilization, as well as microbial activities and functional genes related to soil N transformations. The review additionally outlines the impact of HMs on environmental degradation, including the risk of soil N losses (e.g., leaching, runoff, and gaseous emissions) and depletion of soil fertility, thus threatening the sustainability of the ecosystem. The effect of edaphic factors and fertilization on soil N cycling response to HM contamination was also examined. The effect of phytoremediation, a sustainable approach to remediate HM polluted soils, on N cycling was also reviewed. Thus, this review underscores the importance of increasing research and innovative strategies to combat HM pollution’s effects to enhance soil health, boost crop yields, and protect soil stability and productivity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325001022ContaminationHeavy metalsNitrogen cyclingSoil enzymes and functional genesEdaphic factorsEnvironmental impact |
| spellingShingle | Tracy Opande Mengru Kong Di Feng YuHong Wen Nathan Okoth Ali Mohd Yatoo Fatma Mohamed Ameen Khalil Ahmed S. Elrys Lei Meng Jinbo Zhang Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A review Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Contamination Heavy metals Nitrogen cycling Soil enzymes and functional genes Edaphic factors Environmental impact |
| title | Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A review |
| title_full | Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A review |
| title_fullStr | Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A review |
| title_short | Edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals: A review |
| title_sort | edaphic factors mediate the response of nitrogen cycling and related enzymatic activities and functional genes to heavy metals a review |
| topic | Contamination Heavy metals Nitrogen cycling Soil enzymes and functional genes Edaphic factors Environmental impact |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325001022 |
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