Effects of Exogenous Application of Phenolic Acid on Soil Nutrient Availability, Enzyme Activities, and Microbial Communities

Yi Zhou, Yihang Liu, Chaoqiang Jiang, Zeinab El-Desouki, Muhammad Riaz, Chenlu Wang, Xueping Zhang, Jiayi Ding, Zhenghao Chen, Huaiwei Liu, Jia Shen and Hao Xia ()
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Yi Zhou: College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, China
Yihang Liu: College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, China
Chaoqiang Jiang: Institute of Industrial Crops, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230001, China
Zeinab El-Desouki: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Muhammad Riaz: College of Resources and Environment, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Chenlu Wang: College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, China
Xueping Zhang: College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, China
Jiayi Ding: College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, China
Zhenghao Chen: College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, China
Huaiwei Liu: Agriculture and Rural Bureau of Dingtao District, Heze 274100, China
Jia Shen: Institute of Industrial Crops, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230001, China
Hao Xia: Institute of Industrial Crops, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230001, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Phenolic acids are important allelochemicals that contribute to obstacles in continuous cropping systems, significantly impacting soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and the composition of microbial communities. This study explored the effects of treatment time and the concentration of various phenolic acids (salicylic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid) on soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and soil microorganisms through cultivation experiments. The results indicated that high-concentration phenolic acid treatment negatively affected the availability of soil nutrients by acidifying the soil, as reflected in the low soil pH, compared to the untreated control. Moreover, the soil extracellular enzymes exhibited varying degrees of improvement when phenolic acids were added. Multi-element analysis revealed that treatment duration, concentration, and the type of phenolic acid significantly affected soil nutrient levels and enzyme activity. Additionally, structural equation modeling indicated a significant correlation between the concentration of phenolic acids and the diversity of microorganisms. Phenolic acids influence the soil ecological environment by altering the relative abundance of functional microorganisms ( p_Patescibacteria and p_Mortierellomycota ) in the soil. Thus, comprehensive regulation and control of continuous cropping obstacles can be achieved by adjusting the micro-ecological environment of the soil, which, in turn, affects phenolic acid substances present in the soil, thereby alleviating continuous cropping obstacles.

Keywords: phenolic acids; continuous cropping obstacles; bacterium; fungus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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