The changes of rhizosphere characteristics contributed to enhanced Pb accumulation in Athyrium wardii (Hook.) Makino after nitrilotriacetic acid application.

Chelant-assisted phytoremediation may modify plant rhizosphere, which is closely related to heavy metal (HM) accumulation in plants. This work focused on the effects of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on rhizosphere characteristics to investigate the mechanisms of lead (Pb) accumulation in Athyrium wardii (Hook.) Makino with exposure to 800 mg kg Pb. After NTA application, Pb accumulation in the underground part of A. wardii increased by 14.3%, accompanying with some changes for the rhizosphere soils. Soil pH decreased by 0.37 units, and the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content in the rhizosphere soils significantly increased by 7.6%. The urease, acid phosphatase, and catalase activities in the rhizosphere soils significantly increased by 104.8%, 19.7%, and 27.1%, respectively. However, a slight inhibition on microbial activities was observed in the rhizosphere of A. wardii after NTA application. Soil respiration decreased by 8.9%, and microbial biomass carbon decreased by 8.9% in the rhizosphere soils, indicating that NTA addition might recruit some microorganisms to maintain rhizosphere functions in Pb-contaminated soils while inhibiting others with low tolerance to Pb. Results suggest that lower pH, more DOC exudation, and higher soil enzyme activities after NTA application contributed to the increase of Pb accumulation in A. wardii. This study gave some preliminary evidence for NTA-assisted Pb remediation by A. wardii by modifying rhizosphere characteristics.