Nano‑silicon dioxide selectively strengthens the performance of nitrification inhibitor in driving composite organic pollutant dissipations

Abstract

Composite organic pollutant residues caused substantial risks to the environment-plant systems. The study assessed the effects of nano‑silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2) and nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) on composite organic pollutant dissipations in relation to microorganisms and metabolites in environment-plant systems. Exclusive DCD application notably diminished soil paclobutrazol and carbendazim contents by 12.1% and 3.8%, respectively, and it also reduced plant carbendazim contents by 35.7% significantly. Co-presences of nano-SiO2 and DCD also declined plant paclobutrazol contents by 16.4% significantly. However, in comparison to the DCD application alone, extra nano-SiO2 generated double-edge sword effects of positively diminishing plant paclobutrazol contents but negatively promoting plant carbendazim residues. Nano-SiO2 selectively strengthened the performance of the DCD in decreasing plant composite organic pollutant to decline paclobutrazol contents but to impede plant carbendazim dissipations. This may result from the altered abundances of metabolites and the induced growth of specific microbes, including hexadecasphinganin and L-Tyrosine and endophytic Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota. Therefore, the selections of nano-SiO2 and DCD alone or co-presences should consider the trade-offs among composite organic pollutant dissipations in environment-plant systems.