Abstract
Improper disposal of mercury (Hg)-contaminated tailings on agricultural fields can reduce land quality for food production. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the Azotobacter consortium, comprising Azotobacter tropicalis S5, A. vinelandii S6a, and A. chrooccocum S9, on the Carbon-to-Nitrogen (C/N) ratio and Hg levels in tailings as well as foxtail millet growth, biomass, and mercury in plants. The experiment used a randomized block design with three levels of Azotobacter liquid inoculant, i.e., 3, 15, and 30 mL per pot, and six replications. The control did not receive inoculant. After six weeks, the treatment did not alter the pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, or total mercury levels in the soil; however, it did promote an increase in shoot height and leaf number, without affecting plant biomass. Applying 30 mL/pot of Azotobacter inoculant enhanced Azotobacter and total bacterial populations in the rhizosphere. The Azotobacter inoculant did not alter nitrogen uptake but potentially reduced mercury content in the plants. The Pearson’s test showed that Azotobacter levels in the substrate were significantly correlated with the decreased mercury content of plants. These findings suggest that the application of the Azotobacter consortium can lead to improved plant growth and a reduction in mercury uptake by millet plants grown in tailing-based substrate. Further research is necessary to develop more effective inoculants and extend the study period.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Azotobacter inoculation did not alter measured soil chemistry or total mercury.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“the treatment did not alter the pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, or total mercury levels in the soil”
Claim · model-written summary
Azotobacter inoculation increased shoot height and leaf number.
Not reportedTaxonTreatmentComparator
Verbatim
e0“it did promote an increase in shoot height and leaf number, without affecting plant biomass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Azotobacter inoculation did not affect plant biomass.
Not reportedTaxonTreatmentComparator
Verbatim
e0“without affecting plant biomass.”
Claim · model-written summary
A 30 mL/pot dose enhanced Azotobacter and total bacterial populations in the rhizosphere.
- Treatment
- 30 mL/pot of Azotobacter inoculante0
- Interactor
- Azotobacter
Azotobactere0symbiont - Outcome
- Azotobacter and total bacterial populations in the rhizospheree0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Applying 30 mL/pot of Azotobacter inoculant enhanced Azotobacter and total bacterial populations in the rhizosphere.”
Claim · model-written summary
Azotobacter inoculant did not alter plant nitrogen uptake.
- Treatment
- Azotobacter inoculante0
- Interactor
- AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
- Outcome
- nitrogen uptakee0
- Direction
- did not altere0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Azotobacter inoculant did not alter nitrogen uptake but potentially reduced mercury content in the plants.”
Claim · model-written summary
Azotobacter inoculant potentially reduced mercury content in plants.
- Treatment
- Azotobacter inoculante0
- Interactor
- AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
- Outcome
- mercury content in the plantse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Qualifier
- potentiallye0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Azotobacter inoculant did not alter nitrogen uptake but potentially reduced mercury content in the plants.”
Claim · model-written summary
Substrate Azotobacter levels were significantly correlated with decreased plant mercury content.
- Interactor
- AzotobacterAzotobactere0symbiont
- Outcome
- mercury content of plantse0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedTaxon
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Azotobacter levels in the substrate were significantly correlated with the decreased mercury content of plants.”