Jianjun Wang , Xueming Zhang , Hongwei Liu

Modern Agricultural Research Center , Cuixi Academy of Biotechology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0019
Received: 16 Jun., 2024    Accepted: 25 Jul., 2024    Published: 15 Aug., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Wang J.J., Zhang X.M., and Liu H.W., 2024, Impact of Bt applicatins on soil micrbial cmmunities, Molecular Soil Biology, 15(4): 183-192 (doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0019)

This study investigates the impact of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) applications on soil microbial communities, focusing on enzymatic activities, microbial diversity, and potential ecological risks. The findings indicate that Bt crop cultivation significantly alters soil enzymatic activities, with increases in dehydrogenase and urease activities, while neutral phosphatase activity decreases. Seasonal variations and differences between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were observed, but Bt maize did not generally change microbial populations or community activities. Bt proteins released into the soil through various plant residues can affect soil microbial diversity and physical-chemical properties. However, the presence of Bt proteins in earthworms showed no deleterious effects on their growth and reproduction. Environmental factors were found to have a more significant impact on microbial communities than Bt traits. The application of Bt crops and proteins can influence soil microbial communities and enzymatic activities, but the overall ecological risks appear to be minimal under field conditions. Continuous monitoring and comprehensive biosafety evaluations are recommended to ensure the long-term sustainability of Bt applications in agriculture.

Bacillus thuringiensis; Soil microbial communities; Enzymatic activities; Ecological risks; Bt crops; Microbial diversity