Effect of slow-released biomass alkaline amendments oyster shell on microecology in acidic heavy metal contaminated paddy soils

Soil ecosystem functions and microbial community structure were severely impaired with long-term cadmium (Cd) contamination and acidification. To investigate the effect of amendments on soil physiochemical parameters and soil micro-ecology in acidic Cd contaminated soil, this study was conducted in a pot experiment with the application of calcium amendments, oyster shell powders (OS) and limestone (LM). Each amendment applied at ratios of 1.0%, 3.0%, and 5.0% (w/w), respectively. The results showed that the application of amendments increased the soil pH by 2.10–2.88, the bioavailable Cd decreased by 12.49%–19.48%, and un-bioavailable Cd increased by 96.57%–200.7%. The OS increased the richness index (Chao and Ace increased by 13.23%–16.20% and 7.13%–47.63%), and LM increased the microbial diversity index (Shannon increased by 1.14%–8.72% and Simpson indexes decreased by 28.00%–63.61%). In LM groups, soil microbial communities were significantly altered with increasing application concentrations, the relative abundance of phylum Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota and Gemmatimonadota increased, while Firmicute, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi decreased. In OS treatments, the soil microbial community structure was basically unchanged. The correlation analysis showed that pH, TN, TP, CEC, OM were the dominant factors affecting the microbial community. This study has shown that application of amendments could effectively reduce the Cd bioavailability in soil, but LM altered the soil microbial community structure, while OS maintained the soil microbiological structure.