Heavy metals in slag affect inorganic N dynamics and soil bacterial community structure and function

Heavy metal contamination of soil in the vicinity of mining sites is a serious environmental problem around the world when mining residue (slag) is dispersed as dust. We conducted an incubation experiment to investigate the effect of a slag containing high levels of Pb and Zn (62.2 and 33.6 g kg−1 slag as PbO and ZnO, respectively, sampled from a site formerly used as a lead and zinc mine) on the nitrogen cycle when mixed with soil (0–0.048 g slag g−1 soil). The nitrogen cycle provides many life supporting-functions. To assess the quality of the soil in terms of the nitrogen cycle we focused on the dynamics of nitrate and ammonium, and bacterial community structure and functions within the soil. After two weeks of pre-incubation, 15N-labeled urea (500 mg N kg−1) was added to the soil. Changes in soil pH, the concentration and 15N ratio of nitrate (NO3−-N) and ammonium, and bacterial relative abundance and community structure were measured. Results indicated that increasing the ratio of slag to soil had a stronger negative effect on nitrification than ammonification, as suggested by slower nitrate accumulation rates as the slag:soil ratio increased. In the treatment with the highest amount of slag, the concentration of NO3−-N was 50% of that in the controls at the end of the incubation. Regarding the bacterial community, Firmicutes had a positive and Planctomycetes a negative correlation with increasing slag concentration. Bacterial community functional analysis showed the proportion of bacterial DNA sequences related to nitrogen metabolism was depressed with increasing slag, from 0.68 to 0.65. We concluded that the slag impacted the soil bacterial community structure, and consequently influenced nitrogen dynamics. This study could form the basis of further investigation into the resistance of the nitrogen cycle to contamination in relation to soil bacterial community. [Display omitted] •Nitrification was inhibited in the soil contaminated with slag containing Pb and Zn.•Slag did not alter bacterial diversity but changed community structure and function.•Slag increased the proportion of Firmicutes and decreased that of Planctomycetes.•Bacterial DNA related to nitrogen metabolism was decreased in the presence of slag.•Bacterial community structure may influence the N cycle in the sites with slag. Slag containing heavy metals impacted the soil bacterial community structure, consequently influenced nitrogen dynamics.