Improving yield and quality of vegetable grown in PAEs-contaminated soils by using novel bioorganic fertilizer

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are ubiquitous pollutants in agricultural soils. Application of bioorganic fertilizer (BOF) containing beneficial microbes represents a promising approach to improve the yield and quality of crops grown in contaminated soils. In the present study, a novel multifunctional bioorganic fertilizer N-BOF was developed by using compost of sewage sludge and agricultural waste and inoculating with PAEs-degrading B. megaterium YJB3 and phosphate solubilizing B. megaterium YLYP1. Its feasibility of improving the yield and quality of vegetable grown in PAEs (including DBP and DEHP) contaminated soil was evaluated by pot experiments. The N-BOF could effectively promote plant growth, with biomass increasing by 4–66.9% and 19–110% compared to chemical (CF) and no fertilizer (CK), respectively. The concentrations of DBP and DEHP in shoots of chemically fertilised vegetable ranged 1.23–3.12 mg/kg (dry weight, DW) and 1.63–3.89 mg/kg (DW), respectively. Their concentrations were significantly decreased (p