Effect of antibiotic perturbation on nitrous oxide emissions: An in-depth analysis

Agricultural practices such as extensive manure application (containing residual antibiotics) as fertilizer can also contribute to antibiotic pollution in soil, besides nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This dual impact designates certain agricultural soils as hotspots for heightened N2O emissions and antibiotic pollution. Nevertheless, our understanding of the repercussions of antibiotic residues on N2O emissions and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This comprehensive literature review investigated recent research findings regarding antibiotic contamination in agricultural soils and its influence on microbial N2O production and consumption. We scrutinized published data and field experimental monitoring results to analyze the prevalence and temporal variation of antibiotic residues in Chinese agricultural soils. By analyzing 482 log response ratio (lnR) datasets obtained from 41 independent articles, we established that quinolones (QNs) significantly (p < 0.05) boost N2O emissions. Conversely, cycloheximide and aminoglycosides (ARs) demonstrated notable inhibitory effects. Antibiotic pollution at concentrations within 1 ppm significantly promoted soil N2O emissions, whereas pollution at concentrations exceeding 10 ppm significantly (95% CI > 0) inhibited N2O emissions. Subsequently, we investigated the changes in oxidation-related microorganisms (AOM), nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), comammox bacteria, denitrifying bacteria as well as dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and anammox processes under antibiotic stress. Antibiotics unequally affect microbial N2O production and consumption. Our findings offer valuable insights into the complex relationship between antibiotics and N2O emissions, contributing to a better understanding of the environmental consequences of antibiotic contamination in agricultural systems.