Research progress of rhizosphere effect in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil

The rhizosphere effect mediated by rhizosphere exudates shows that the species and activities of microorganisms, and soil physicochemical properties such as enzymes, pH and organic matter in rhizosphere soil are significantly different from those in non-rhizosphere soil. Rhizosphere effect is greatly affected by soil types and plant species, etc., and has been widely studied and used in agricultural production and forestry protection. In recent years, some progress had been made in the research of rhizosphere effect on soil remediation, but systematic understanding of its remediation mechanism and influencing factors still needed to be further improved. In this study, the remediation mechanism and influencing factors of rhizosphere effect in heavy metal contaminated soil were reviewed and analyzed, and the measures to strengthen the remediation effect were proposed to improve the soil bioremediation efficiency by rhizosphere effect. The review indicated that the rhizosphere effects drove the significant differences in the form and distribution of heavy metals between the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. Affected by soil types, plant functional traits, heavy metal properties and other factors, soil improvement and inoculation of exogenous microorganisms could enhance the remediation effect of plant rhizosphere on heavy metals contaminated soil. However, current studies were in short term and small scale, and had neglected the rhizosphere effects at different growth stages of perennial plants on heavy metal remediation, and the long cycle of plant growth and development set a challenge for screening of specific remediation plants. With the deeper study of rhizosphere effect in the field of soil remediation, it was necessary to carry out more systematic, comprehensive and long-term index monitoring researches to identify the primary and secondary factors affecting the restoration of heavy metals by rhizosphere effect. At the same time, specific remediation plants of different heavy metal contaminated soil types were needed to be selected to facilitate the establishment of soil bioremediation plant resource bank.