Promotion of root Cd enrichment and inhibition of its translocation through integrated strategies

Aims To address the limitations of Phytoextraction and Phytostabilization, this study introduced a novel "root accumulation" strategy by synergizing the advantages of phytoextraction and immobilization techniques for Cd-contaminated soil remediation. Methods A pot experiment was conducted to screen nine plant species using microbial inoculation, and Lolium multiflorum was selected. Foliar application of control agents was applied, and NO was identified as the most effective. An integrated remediation system was established, and soil microbial communities were preliminarily analyzed. Results Lolium multiflorum exhibited the highest root biomass (3.96 g pot –1 ) and root Cd content (82.60 mg kg –1 ), significantly exceeding other species ( P  < 0.05), along with a high Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) (2.75) and low Transfer Factor (TF). Under 5 mg kg –1 Cd, TF increased by up to 41.25%. Foliar application of NO, Se, and Si effectively suppressed Cd translocation to shoots, with NO showing the strongest inhibition and simultaneously enhancing uptake of Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn. The combination of foliar NO (30 mg L –1 ) and microbial consortium achieved the highest root BCQ (0.294) under 10 mg L –1 Cd, while improving plant tolerance and soil microbial diversity. Conclusions This study successfully developed an efficient root accumulation system within a single plant framework, enabling simultaneous reduction of shoot Cd levels and enhancement of root Cd sequestration. These findings offer critical insights and technical advancements for sustainable precision agriculture and environmentally sound soil remediation strategies. Graphical