Organic matter accelerated microbial iron reduction and available phosphorus release in reflooded paddy soils
摘要
Relative abundance of Fe-reducing bacteria decoupled from Fe reduction rate. Soil phosphorus limitation contributed to the enrichment of Fe-reducing bacteria. Microbial Fe reduction facilitated phosphorus release. Lignin degradation accelerated microbial Fe reduction and P activation.
Organic fertilization may influence soil carbon–iron (C-Fe) cycling and enhance phosphorus (P) availability, yet the direct connection between soil organic matter molecules and iron-reducing processes in long-term fertilized paddy soils remains underexplored. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment using paddy soils treated with six distinct fertilization regimes involving varying P and organic matter inputs up to five years. We assessed P activation under reflooding conditions, evaluated Fe reduction, and characterized dissolved organic matter (DOM) at the molecular level using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), alongside profiling soil microbial community composition via high-throughput sequencing. Our findings revealed that after 25 days of reflooding, soil Olsen-P content increased by an average of 73% compared to its initial state, showing a strong correlation with the Fe reduction process. Specifically, treatments involving pig manure application exhibited higher Fe reduction rates and enhanced P activation, highlighting the role of organic matter in facilitating Fe reduction. Examination of Fe-reducing microorganisms revealed that their relative abundance was decoupled from Fe reduction and P release rates, potentially due to limitations of lower soil organic matter content. Further analysis of DOM composition and network structures suggested that high-molecular-weight DOM, particularly lignin, acted as key resources for Fe-reducing microbes, thereby driving Fe reduction and promoting P release. Overall, our study highlights the crucial role of soil DOM in enabling microbial-driven Fe reduction and enhancing P availability, providing insights valuable for sustainable agricultural practices.