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Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
Published on: May 10, 2020
Nitrogen fertilizer improves Salix matsudana growth and soil qualities
Qian Wang1, Xiaoyun Niu1, Shuo Huang1
1Hebei Key Laboratory of Floral Biological Breeding, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China.
Introduction:
Soil contamination with heavy metals (e.g., Pb, Cd) poses severe environmental risks due to industrialization. Salix matsudana, a metal-tolerant woody plant, shows promise for phytoremediation, yet the synergistic role of nitrogen (N) fertilization in enhancing plant growth and soil remediation remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate how N fertilization optimizes S. matsudana's remediation efficiency.
Methods:
We applied integrated physiological and multi-omics approaches to assess N fertilization effects on S. matsudana growth, Pb/Cd uptake, and rhizosphere properties. Physiological metrics (biomass, metal accumulation) were combined with microbial community analysis (16S rRNA sequencing) and metabolomic profiling (LC-MS/GC-MS) of rhizosphere soils under varying N concentrations.
Results:
High N levels significantly increased plant biomass and Pb/Cd accumulation. Microbial diversity shifted, with enriched metal-mobilizing taxa. Metabolomics revealed elevated organic acids, correlating with improved metal bioavailability and soil health.
Discussion:
N fertilization synergistically enhances phytoremediation by: (1) stimulating plant growth and metal uptake, (2) reshaping rhizosphere microbiomes for metal mobilization, and (3) promoting chelating metabolite secretion. These findings provide actionable insights for optimizing N-assisted phytoremediation strategies.
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