Legume outperforms grass in shaping rhizospheremicrobiome and functionality during ceramic clay mining area restoration" to Environmental Microbiology
Revegetation with pioneer plants is essential for restoring degraded ecosystems in abandoned miningareas. However, how different species, especially legumes and grasses, shape the rhizosphere microbiome and itsfunetions in acidic ceramic clay mining soils remains unclear, This study examined rhizosphere propertiesmicrobial diversity, community structure, and functional profiles of two legumes (Crotalaria pallida, Sennaoccidentalis) and three grasses (Setaria viridis, Pennisetum glaucum, Paspalum wettsteinii) in an abandonedmining area. Results showed that the rhizosphere of Crp had significantly higher levels of total phosphorus, totalpotassium, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium. Bacterial communities weredominated by Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota, while fungi were mainly Ascomycota. The legume Seo had thehighest microbial richness. Soil organic matter, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus were key drivers ofmicrobial community assembly. Metabolic functions, particularly carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, werehighly enriched. Legumes, especially CrP, promoted a more beneficial microbial finctional profile supportingnutrient cycling compared to grasses. These findings indicate that legumes, through distinct root exudates and nutrient strategies, more eflectively recruit beneficial rhizosphere microbes and enhance metabolic functions vitalfor soil nutrient cycling,. This study supports using legumes as optimal pioneer species in ecological restoration ofabandoned mining sites.