<i>Bacillus megaterium</i> and diatom improve mineral mining area soil quality and root biomass individually but show slightly inferior combined effects.

ABSTRACT: Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) promote plant growth by improving soil structure and regulating soil nutrients. However, their effects on soil quality in mining subsidence areas remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to address this research gap by comparing the differences in soil nutrients, enzyme activities, soil quality, and plant growth following treatment with different types of biocrusts (control, diatom, Bacillus megaterium, and diatom-B. megaterium biocrusts) in mining subsidence areas. The results indicated that, compared to control biocrust treatment, individual treatment with diatom biocrust and B. megaterium biocrust significantly enhanced the organic carbon content, total nitrogen content, and invertase activity in the crust layer and increa

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12748183 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature