Characteristics of denitrification genes and relevant enzyme activities in heavy-metal polluted soils remediated by biochar and compost

Denitrification is an important process affecting nitrogen dynamics in soils. In this study, abundances of denitrification genes (narG, nirK, nirS, and nosZ) and activities of nitrite reductase (S-NiR), nitrate reductase (S-NR) were measured in heavy-metal polluted soils with different amendments of biochar and compost. The relationships between physical-chemical parameters, denitrification gene abundance, and enzyme activity were analyzed by Pearson correlation method. Results showed that compost addition significantly increased the abundances of functional genes (nirS, nosZ, narG), and the abundances of nirK and nirS might be sensitive to compost and biochar addition. Compost addition and its combination with biochar significantly decreased the S-NiR enzyme activity and stimulated the S-NR enzyme activity. Negative relationships were obtained between S-NiR activity and electric conductivity (EC), water soluble carbon (WSC), nitrate, ammonium, nirK, narG gene abundances. While S-NR activity significantly positively correlated with soil EC, WSC and nirK gene abundance. Biochar and compost amendments can alter soil nitrogen cycling by changing denitrifying functional gene and relevant enzyme activities in soils polluted by heavy metals.