Research on effects of municipal sludge application on composition and microbial communities of mine waste rock soil

ZHANG Bo; WANG Jiawei; YANG Chaofeng; LU Jiafei; LI Li; HU Xiaomin

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202607023

Volume 44 Issue 7

Jul. 2026

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(7): 233-241

ZHANG Bo, WANG Jiawei, YANG Chaofeng, LU Jiafei, LI Li, HU Xiaomin. Research on effects of municipal sludge application on composition and microbial communities of mine waste rock soil[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(7): 233-241. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607023

Citation:

ZHANG Bo, WANG Jiawei, YANG Chaofeng, LU Jiafei, LI Li, HU Xiaomin. Research on effects of municipal sludge application on composition and microbial communities of mine waste rock soil[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(7): 233-241. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607023

Citation:

ZHANG Bo, WANG Jiawei, YANG Chaofeng, LU Jiafei, LI Li, HU Xiaomin. Research on effects of municipal sludge application on composition and microbial communities of mine waste rock soil[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(7): 233-241. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607023

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Research on effects of municipal sludge application on composition and microbial communities of mine waste rock soil

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607023

1. Shiyan Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Eco-environmental Protection, College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Hanjiang Normal University, Shiyan 442000, China;
2. School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China

Received Date: 2025-11-09
Available Online: 2026-09-01

Abstract

Abstract

The rapid population growth and accelerating urban development have made the comprehensive utilization of municipal sludge （MS） an urgent challenge. MS contains substantial organic matter and essential nutrients for crop growth， making it a promising soil amendment for the ecological restoration of mine waste rock. However， research evaluating the impact of MS application on soil health and ecological safety from a soil microbiology perspective remains understudied. Therefore， this study investigated the effects of MS and composted municipal sludge （CMS） on the ecological restoration of mine waste rock soil through pot experiments. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to analyze changes in soil microbial community structure and diversity. Finally， network analysis and correlation heatmaps were utilized to elucidate the microbial driving mechanisms. The results indicated that after MS and CMS application， organic matter content increased from 20.38 g/kg （Level 3） to 38.52 g/kg （Level 2）. The levels of available nitrogen， phosphorus， and potassium rose from Level 4， 6， 2，to Level 1， 4， 1， respectively. Fresh weight， aboveground height， root length， and stem diameter of ryegrass all increased significantly. Venn diagram and heatmap analyses indicated that lower application rates （<1.5 kg/m²） enhanced microbial community richness and diversity. This study confirms municipal sludge as an effective amendment for mine waste rock soil. It is recommended to limit application rates below 1.5 kg/m² in practical mine ecological restoration projects， with particular attention to long-term dynamics of heavy metals and salinity to ensure safe and sustainable land reuse.
- municipal sludge,
- mine waste rock,
- ecological restoration,
- microbial communities,
- high-throughput sequencing

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References(32)

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