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Mechanisms of improving coastal saline-alkali soil by periphyton
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  • Ye Zhu,
  • Tianyun Shao,
  • Yujie Zhou,
  • Xiumei Gao,
  • Xiaohua Long,
  • Zed Rengel
Ye Zhu
Nanjing Agricultural University

Corresponding Author:zhuyechn@163.com

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Tianyun Shao
Nanjing Agricultural University
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Yujie Zhou
Nanjing Agricultural University
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Xiumei Gao
Nanjing Agricultural University
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Xiaohua Long
Nanjing Agricultural University
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Zed Rengel
The University of Western Australia
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Abstract

Periphyton plays an indispensable role in coastal saline-alkali land, but its function is poorly understood. Soil physical and chemical properties (pH value, salinity, soil organic matter), enzyme activity and microbial diversity (based on 16s rDNA, ITS and functional genes) were measured in periphyton formed on rice-growing coastal saline-alkali soil modified by a new type of soil conditioner. The results showed that the content of organic matter and catalase activity in periphyton were significantly higher than in the unplanted control soil. Soil pH and salinity were decreased in periphyton compared to the unplanted control soil. Based on the relative abundance, bacterial genera Desulfomicrobium, Rhodobacter, cyanobacterium_scsio_T−2, Gemmatimonas, and Salinarimonas as well as fungal genus Fusarium were more abundant in periphyton than the unplanted control soil. In terms of functional genes, the cbbM and cbbL sequencing showed higher abundance of Hydrogenophaga, Rhodovulum, Magnetospira, Leptothrix, and Thiohalorhabdus, whereas the nifH sequencing indicated higher abundance of Cyanobacteria in the periphyton compared to the unplanted soil. The relative abundance and community structure of soil microorganisms were improved by periphyton, thus reducing soil salinity and pH, increasing soil organic matter and enzyme activity. This indicated that the periphyton can improve the conditions and offer a suitable environment for plant growth in coastal saline-alkali soil.
18 Jan 2021Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
18 Jan 2021Submission Checks Completed
18 Jan 2021Assigned to Editor
20 Jan 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Feb 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Feb 20211st Revision Received
22 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
22 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
01 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Mar 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Mar 20212nd Revision Received
12 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
13 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Mar 2021Editorial Decision: Accept