The contribution of living organisms to rock weathering in the critical zone

Abstract

Rock weathering is a key process in global elemental cycling. Life participates in this process with tangible consequences observed from the mineral interface to the planetary scale. Multiple lines of evidence show that microorganisms may play a pivotal—yet overlooked—role in weathering. This topic is reviewed here with an emphasis on the following questions that remain unanswered: What is the quantitative contribution of bacteria and fungi to weathering? What are the associated mechanisms and do they leave characteristic imprints on mineral surfaces or in the geological record? Does biogenic weathering fulfill an ecological function, or does it occur as a side effect of unrelated metabolic functions and biological processes? An overview of efforts to integrate the contribution of living organisms into reactive transport models is provided. We also highlight prospective opportunities to harness microbial weathering in order to support sustainable agroforestry practices and mining activities, soil remediation, and carbon sequestration.

Enhancing the Agronomic Performance of Potassium Fertilizer and Potassium-Bearing Minerals in Sandy Loam Soil by Adding Humic Acids and Mycorrhiza

“…Additionally, the mycorrhizal fungi themselves can also directly absorb and transfer these nutrients to the plant roots. (Wild, Gerrits and Bonneville 2022) (Bindschedler and Verrecchia 2019).…”

Microbial dynamics in soils of the Damma glacier forefield show succession in the functional genetic potential

“…Microorganisms can grow on rock surfaces or within rocks, where plants are unable to develop, in particular through microbial chemosynthesis supported by mineral weathering (de los Rios et al, 2003; Frey et al, 2010; Garrido‐Benavent et al, 2020; Varliero et al, 2021; Wierzchos et al, 2018). In these environments, microorganisms together with lichens pave the way for subsequent plant colonization, as inorganic nutrients are released that can eventually be used by plants (Wild et al, 2022). Bradyrhizobium have been reported to fix N 2 (Nash et al, 2018) and supply it to lichens.…”

Mineral-Bound Trace Metals as Cofactors for Anaerobic Biological Nitrogen Fixation

“…Microorganisms have been capable of promoting mineral weathering throughout Earth's history. 29,30 To overcome metal limitations, microorganisms adopt specific strategies to extract metals from solid minerals (e.g., acidolysis, redox reaction, and complexation). 11,31 For instance, microorganisms excrete organic molecules with a high metal affinity (e.g., log K = 12−52 for Fe complexation 32 ), called siderophores or metallophores, 33,34 to solubilize Fe and other metals from minerals for selective uptake.…”

“…Microorganisms have been capable of promoting mineral weathering throughout Earth’s history. , To overcome metal limitations, microorganisms adopt specific strategies to extract metals from solid minerals (e.g., acidolysis, redox reaction, and complexation). , For instance, microorganisms excrete organic molecules with a high metal affinity (e.g., log K = 12–52 for Fe complexation), called siderophores or metallophores, , to solubilize Fe and other metals from minerals for selective uptake. , Indeed, extraction of Mo by diazotrophs has been reported when an aerobic diazotroph was incubated with synthetic silicate glass and molybdenite . In those studies, siderophores were capable of complexing with Mo, V, and Fe for cellular uptake. , Under anaerobic conditions, siderophore-producing microorganisms are limited to facultative anaerobes, such as Shewanella oneidensis and Rhodopseudomonas palustris. , An obligately anaerobic diazotroph Clostridium kluyveri may be able to produce siderophores based on the discovery of a putative siderophore gene biosynthesis cluster .…”