ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Response of Soil-Crop System and Adaptive Changes of Microbial Communities under Different Water Quality Irrigation
Jian Shen 1,2,3
,
 
Jimeng Feng 1,2,3
,
 
,
 
Qing Li 2,3
,
 
,
 
Xin-ze Wang 1,2,3
 
 
 
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1
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
 
2
Yunnan Dali Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dali, 671000, China
 
3
National Observation and Research Station of Erhai Lake Ecosystem in Yunnan, Dali, 671000, China
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2026-01-12
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-02-27
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-03-05
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-06-15
 
 
Corresponding author
Qing Li   

Yunnan Dali Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dali, 671000, China
 
 
Xin-ze Wang   

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study used natural water (NW), reclaimed water from wastewater treatment plants (RW), Erhai Lake water (EH), and reclaimed water receiving water (RR) as irrigation sources. Through a 56-day irrigation experiment, the effects of different water quality irrigation on soil physicochemical properties, cabbage growth, and soil bacterial community structure were systematically evaluated. The results showed significant differences in water quality characteristics among the four types of water bodies. Furthermore, after irrigation, the RW and RR treatments led to significant accumulation of soil nitrate nitrogen and sodium salts. The RW and RR treatments promoted the growth of the aboveground biomass of cabbage but inhibited root development, while the NW treatment favored root construction and balanced growth. The diversity of soil bacterial communities was generally suppressed in the early stages of irrigation. By the end of the experiment, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria had become the dominant phyla in all treated soils. This study reveals the positive role of reclaimed water irrigation in providing water and nutrients in the short term and in promoting aboveground crop growth, but it also highlights potential risks such as soil salt accumulation, nitrogen pollution, and restricted root development. This research provides a scientific basis for the short-term safe use of reclaimed water in agriculture.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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