The natural restoration of metal-polluted wasteland

Plants can restore soil nutrient cycles, laying a foundation for biological colonisation and ecosystem function restoration. However, our understanding of the magnitude of rhizosphere effects and the role of above-ground plant traits in natural restoration is limited. Using metagenomics, we investigated the magnitude of rhizosphere effects on soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) cycles at two stages of plant community succession during the natural restoration of an abandoned metal mine.