EDDS application destabilizes soil organic matter in phytoremediation: Insights from quantity and molecular composition of dissolved organic matter

The stability of soil organic matter (SOM) is crucial for metal transport and carbon cycling. S,S-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) is widely used to enhance phytoremediation efficiency for heavy metals in contaminated soils, yet its specific impacts on SOM have been underexplored. This study investigates the effects of EDDS on SOM stability using a rhizobox experiment with ryegrass. Changes in soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) quantity and molecular composition were analyzed via Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Results showed that the use of EDDS increased the uptake of Cu, Cd and Pb by ryegrass, but simultaneously induced the destabilization and transformation of SOM. After 7 days of EDDS application, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) concentrations in rhizosphere soils increased significantly by 3.44 and 10.2 times, respectively. In addition, EDDS reduced lipids (56.3%) and proteins/amino sugars-like compounds (52.1%), while increasing tannins (9.11%) and condensed aromatics-like compounds (24.4%) in the rhizosphere DOM. These effects likely stem from EDDS's dual action: extracting Fe/Al from SOM-mineral aggregates, releasing SOM into the DOM pool, and promoting microbial degradation of bioavailable carbon through chain scission and dehydration. Our study firstly revealed that the application of EDDS in phytoremediation increased the mineralization of SOM and release of CO₂ from soil to the atmosphere, which is important to assess the carbon budget of phytoremediation and develop climate-smart strategy in future.