Low-Concentration Oxidants for Mitigating Continuous Cropping Obstacles: Improving Soil Properties and Microbial...

Area of Science:

• Soil science
• Microbiology
• Agricultural chemistry

Background:

• Continuous cropping obstacles (CCO) negatively impact ginger yield and soil health.
• The efficacy of oxidants in mitigating CCO and improving soil properties is underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP), sodium persulfate (PS), and peracetic acid (PAA) on soil microbial communities and physicochemical properties in CCO-affected soils.

Main Methods:

• Soil samples from ginger cultivation were treated with UHP, PS, and PAA at low concentrations.
• Soil microbial community structure was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing.
• Physicochemical properties, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrient availability, were measured.

Main Results:

• Oxidant treatments, particularly PAA, enriched beneficial microbial taxa (e.g., Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota) and suppressed pathogens.
• All oxidants increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and enhanced macro- and micronutrient availability.
• PAA significantly boosted available phosphorus (144.7%), potassium (7.9%), DOC (6255.5%), and micronutrients like iron (110.5%), manganese (13,991.7%), and zinc (55.7%).

Conclusions:

• Low-concentration PAA effectively modifies soil physicochemical properties and enhances fertility.
• PAA application shows potential for regulating soil microbial community structure.
• PAA presents a promising novel strategy for improving continuous cropping obstacle-affected agricultural soils.