In a recent study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed the effects of Acid Mine Drainage and Sediment (AMD-Sed) contamination on soil bacterial communities and ecological functions in desert grasslands.

Soil bacteria are an important component of desert grassland ecosystems and play an important role in maintaining ecosystem stability and fulfilling soil functions. However, AMD-Sed contamination caused by the process of mine waste stockpiling exerts a strong influence on soil and further impacts the sustainable development of desert grasslands.

In this study, the researchers collected a total of 18 samples from the sediment layer (0-40 cm), the buried soil layer (40-80 cm), and the uncontaminated control soil layer (0-40 cm) in Fuyun county, Xinjiang, China. Based on these samples, they then performed geochemical elemental analyses and genome sequencing analyses to identify changes in the structure, diversity, and ecological functions of soil bacterial communities.

They found that AMD-Sed contamination altered the composition of soil bacterial communities of desert grasslands, weakened the complexity and stability of its bacterial network, and ultimately led to increased vulnerability of bacterial communities in desert grassland ecosystems.

In addition, the research team found that AMD-Sed contamination increased the sulfur-cycle functions but decreased the carbon/nitrogen-cycle functions of the desert grassland soil.

"AMD-Sed pollution is persistent, and timely remediation measures are the key to restoring the ecological functions and productive capacity of desert grasslands,” said SHI Jianfei, first author of the study from XIEG.

This study provides preliminary information about the effects of AMD-Sed contamination on soil bacterial communities and its ecological functions in desert grasslands. It can be used as a reference for ecological restoration of polluted grassland ecosystems.