Sedimentary Organic Matter Load Influences the Ecological Effects and Potential Risks of Submerged Macrophyte Restoration Through Rhizosphere Metabolites

Aims Rehabilitation of submerged vegetation is one of the commonly used techniques for the ecological restoration of shallow lakes. The changes of pollution structure in sediments caused by plant recovery and the rhizosphere chemical process under different sediment organic matter (SOM) levels are theoretical basis for the rational application of plant rehabilitation technology in lake management.Methods A circulating extraction system was designed for in situ collection of rhizospheric metabolites especially for the submerged plants. We explored how Vallisneria natans (V. natans) mediate the changes in sediment N and P through rhizospheric metabolites under low (4.94%) and high (17.35%) SOM levels. Results By analysing 63 rhizospheric metabolites from V. natans, glucitol was found to be 146.82% lower in the low SOM than in the high SOM treatment. NH4-N and NO2-N increased by 57% and 68.39%, respectively, in the high SOM treatment, while approximately one-seventh Inorg-P was transferred from Fe/Al-P to Ca-P in the low SOM treatment. The metabolites lactic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, and phosphoric acid mediated NH4-N accumulation. Additionally, 3-hydroxy-decanoic acid and adipic acid mediated the transformation of Fe/Al-P to Ca-P.Conclusions The growth of V. natans significantly changed Inorg-N or Inorg-P fractions. The changes were SOM level-dependent and rhizosphere metabolites related. This study emphasised the benefit of V. natans rehabilitation at low SOM level. When restoring submerged macrophytes from high SOM sediment, care should be taken due to the release potential of labile N and P forms.