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Background and aims <p>Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils, particularly in southern China, threatens food safety and ecosystem health. Although intercropping is a promising remediation strategy, existing plant combinations often underperform locally, and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates a sunflower (<i>Helianthus annuus</i>) and hyperaccumulator amaranth (<i>Amaranthus hypochondriacus</i>) intercropping system under Cd-contaminated field conditions, assessing its phytoremediation performance and characterizing associated microbial processes that contribute to soil functional stability.</p> Methods <p>Field trials compared intercropped and monocropped plots in terms of plant biomass, Cd accumulation, and soil Cd dynamics. Rhizosphere soil properties and enzyme activities were measured, and high-throughput amplicon and metagenomic sequencing were applied to characterize microbial communities, interaction networks, and functional gene profiles. Multiple regression analysis was used to study the effects of environmental factors and microbial diversity on soil Cd reduction.</p> Results <p>Intercropping significantly enhanced Cd remediation efficiency and lowered the rhizosphere bioavailable Cd concentration. Amplicon sequencing analysis revealed that intercropping enhanced the abundance of beneficial microbial taxa in rhizospheric soil, including ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), whilst reducing the prevalence of detrimental microbial groups such as pathogenic fungal taxa. Additionally, intercropping fosters a more interconnected and complex microbial network structure compared to monocropping systems. Metagenomics demonstrated upregulation of Cd-resistance genes and nutrient-cycling pathways.</p> Conclusion <p>Sunflower-amaranth intercropping effectively reduces and improves crop biomass by reshaping rhizosphere microbial communities and boosting functional gene expression. This approach ensures both safe crop production and sustainable soil restoration in Cd-contaminated farmland.</p>

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Intercropping sunflower with amaranth to remediate cadmium-contaminated agricultural land: performance and mechanism

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月18日

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  • Zhuo-hui Wu,
  • Feifan Wang,
  • Mai Ye,
  • Jingru Zhang,
  • Zhiyi Li,
  • Yunrong Xi,
  • Rongzhou Jin,
  • Yanying Li,
  • Zhipeng Chen,
  • Ye Wu,
  • Ting Huang,
  • Qijie Cheng,
  • Xinlin Yu,
  • Weihang Zeng,
  • Peng Xiao,
  • Pu Jia,
  • Alan J. M. Baker,
  • Jin-tian Li

摘要

Background and aims

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils, particularly in southern China, threatens food safety and ecosystem health. Although intercropping is a promising remediation strategy, existing plant combinations often underperform locally, and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates a sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and hyperaccumulator amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) intercropping system under Cd-contaminated field conditions, assessing its phytoremediation performance and characterizing associated microbial processes that contribute to soil functional stability.

Methods

Field trials compared intercropped and monocropped plots in terms of plant biomass, Cd accumulation, and soil Cd dynamics. Rhizosphere soil properties and enzyme activities were measured, and high-throughput amplicon and metagenomic sequencing were applied to characterize microbial communities, interaction networks, and functional gene profiles. Multiple regression analysis was used to study the effects of environmental factors and microbial diversity on soil Cd reduction.

Results

Intercropping significantly enhanced Cd remediation efficiency and lowered the rhizosphere bioavailable Cd concentration. Amplicon sequencing analysis revealed that intercropping enhanced the abundance of beneficial microbial taxa in rhizospheric soil, including ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), whilst reducing the prevalence of detrimental microbial groups such as pathogenic fungal taxa. Additionally, intercropping fosters a more interconnected and complex microbial network structure compared to monocropping systems. Metagenomics demonstrated upregulation of Cd-resistance genes and nutrient-cycling pathways.

Conclusion

Sunflower-amaranth intercropping effectively reduces and improves crop biomass by reshaping rhizosphere microbial communities and boosting functional gene expression. This approach ensures both safe crop production and sustainable soil restoration in Cd-contaminated farmland.