Soil microbial community composition and nitrogen enrichment responses to the operation of electric power substation

The surge in global energy demand mandates a significant expansion of electric power substations. Nevertheless, the ecological consequences of electric power substation operation, particularly concerning the electromagnetic field, on soil microbial communities and nitrogen enrichment remain unexplored. In this study, we collected soil samples from six distinct sites at varying distances from an electric power substation in Xintang village, southeastern China, and investigated the impacts of electromagnetic field on the microbial diversity and community structures employing metagenomic sequencing technique. Our results showed discernible dissimilarities in the fungal community across the six distinct sites, each characterized by unique magnetic and electric intensities, whereas comparable variations were not evident within bacterial communities. Correlation analysis revealed a diminished nitrogen fixation capacity at the site nearest to the substation, characterized by low moisture content, elevated pH, and robust magnetic induction intensity and electric field intensity. Conversely, heightened nitrification processes were observed at this location compared to others. These findings were substantiated by the relative abundance of key genes associated with ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen production. This study provides insights into the relationships between soil microbial communities and the enduring operation of electric power substations, thereby contributing fundamental information essential for the rigorous environmental impact assessments of these facilities.