Reductive release of Fe mineral-associated organic matter accelerated by oxalic acid

The properties and composition of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) are highly affected by the adsorption and desorption of organic matter (OM) on soil minerals and heterotrophic microbial respiration. Organic acids (e.g., oxalic acid), components of root exudates, have been revealed to liberate organic matter (OM) by the dissolution of protective mineral phases and stimulate microbial degradation of OM. However, the effects of organic acids on the properties and composition of soil DOM molecules and the related mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we conducted microcosm incubation experiments with and without oxalic acid addition, and aimed to elucidate the variations of DOM properties and composition, employing a combination of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, optical spectroscopy, and bacterial community composition analysis. Our results indicated that the released OM from the direct dissolution of protective mineral phases by oxalic acid further stimulated the microbial reductive release of Fe mineral-associated OM under anoxic conditions. Furthermore, the addition of oxalic acid enhanced the degradation of aliphatic compounds and lignins with low O/C ratios, and increased the accumulation of lignins with high O/C ratios, tannins, and condensed aromatics. Linking the bacterial community composition to DOM molecular properties and composition further suggested that the enhanced reductive release of Fe mineral-associated OM was highly related to the increased abundances of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Overall, oxalic acid induced long-lasting impacts on soil DOM properties and composition under anoxic soil conditions in our study. We expect that our results will contribute to understanding the dynamics of soil DOM molecules in the environment.