Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Volume 50, Issue 8, Pages 4169-4177Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b05165
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Funding
- Subsurface Biogeochemistry Research Program within the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division in the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) [DR-FG02-08ER64567, ER65222-1038426-0017532]
- DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research program
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Wetlands attenuate the migration of many contaminants through a wide range of biogeochemical reactions. Recent research has shown that the rhizosphere, the zone near plant roots, in wetlands is especially effective at promoting contaminant attenuation. The objective of this study was to compare the soil organic matter (OM) composition and microbial communities of a rhizosphere soil (primarily an oxidized environment) to that of the bulk wetland soil (primarily a reduced environment). The rhizosphere had elevated C, N, Mn, and Fe concentrations and total bacteria, including Anaeromyxobacter, counts (as identified by qPCR). Furthermore, the rhizosphere contained several organic molecules that were not identified in the nonrhizosphere soil (54% of the >2200 ESI-FTICR-MS identified compounds). The rhizosphere OM molecules generally had (1) greater overall molecular weights, (2) less aromaticity, (3) more carboxylate and N-containing COO functional groups, and (4) a greater hydrophilic character. These latter two OM properties typically promote metal binding. This study showed for the first time that not only the amount but also the molecular characteristics of OM in the rhizosphere may in part be responsible for the enhanced immobilization of contaminants in wetlands. These finding have implications on the stewardship and long-term management of contaminated wetlands.
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