Microbial Community Shifts in Response to Long-Term Heavy Metal Contamination in Agricultural Soils
Keywords:
Heavy metal contamination, microbial community, agricultural soils, microbial diversity, soil health, functional shifts, ActinobacteriaAbstract
Long-term exposure to heavy metals has profound impacts on microbial community dynamics in agricultural soils, potentially influencing soil fertility, crop productivity, and ecosystem sustainability. This study investigates the structural and functional shifts in microbial communities subjected to prolonged contamination by heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper. Using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic tools, microbial diversity, abundance, and ecological function were analyzed in soils exposed to heavy metals under controlled and field conditions. Results revealed a marked decline in microbial diversity and a shift toward metal-resistant taxa, including Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Functional predictions suggest a stress-adaptive microbial response involving metal resistance genes and metabolic reprogramming. These findings provide crucial insights into microbial resilience and soil health under persistent anthropogenic stressors.
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