Quantitative assessment of the potential for soil improvement by planting <i>Miscanthus</i> on saline?alkaline soil and the underlying microbial mechanism

Phytoremediation using Miscanthus is a valuable technique for the restoration of saline-alkaline soil, but potential not quantified. To assess this potential, 5 years field experiment was conducted on soils with three genotypes and an unplanted control. The bulk soil (0–20-cm depth) physicochemical properties were measured annually from 2015 to 2018, while bacterial fungal community structures rhizosphere investigated by high-throughput sequencing after under (2018). results showed that cultivation reduced salinization improved fertility site. Specifically, compared blank control, five-years (mean different pooled) decreased pH 0.33 units (8.78–8.45) electrical conductivity 23.4 ?S/cm (226.7–203.3 ?S/cm), as well increasing organic matter content 18.9 34.9 g/kg total potassium 15.2 18.0 g/kg. In addition, improvement more pronounced longer duration growth. remediates altering microbial compositional abundance rather than its diversity. due enrichment beneficial bacteria leading desalinization (e.g., Gemmatimonadaceae), litter decomposition Chitinophagaceae), plant growth promotion Micrococcaceae), reduction harmful fungi Pleosporales Chitinophagaceae). Soil pH, conductivity, matter, main affecting communities. Our quantify clarify underlying mechanisms, laying solid foundation further implementation phytoremediation Miscanthus. future, extensive multi-location trials are required if these improvements seen across wide diversity environments.