The culture inoculation method could influence heavy metals levels in soil, plant uptake, and biomass: a meta-analysis

Taufiq Bachtiar (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Ratih Nurjayati (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Ania Citraresmini (Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, West Java, Sumedang)
Hidawati Hidawati (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Veny Rachmawati (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Asep Mulyono (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Rhazista Noviardi (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Wilda Naily (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Merri Jayanti (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Siti Wahyuningsih (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Dyah Marganingrum (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Muhammad Rahman Djuwansyah (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Science and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang)
Mohd Noor Hidayat Adenan (Agrotechnology and Biosciences Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Kajang, Bangi)

SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology
Vol 22, No 2 (2025): December

Heavy metals (HMS) contamination in soil is a major issue that significantly impacts plants and human health. Various approaches have been employed to mitigate the effects of heavy metals, including the application of microorganisms (MO). This study aims to analyze the impact of bioinoculation application on HMS content in plants and soil through a meta-analysis approach. Twenty-nine publications reviewed between 2001 and 2023 reported the effects of microorganism applications on HMS content in plants and soil. A systematic review was applied to select relevant studies, and effect sizes (ES) were calculated using Hedges’d to quantify the impact of microbial treatments on heavy metal content. The parameters observed were As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, Ni, Mn, Zn, and Fe in plants (shoots, roots, fruit, and total plants), soil, and plant biomass. The ES values of Hedges’ microorganisms HMS on soil, plants, and plant biomass were -3.257 (p<0.001), 1.234 (p<0.001), and 2.301 (p<0.001), respectively. The results showed that the greatest reduction in HMS content in the soil was the combined application of fungi and bacteria (ES -5.519; p<0.001), and the highest metal content absorbed by the soil and plants was Cu (ES -13.642; p<0.001) and Pb (2.645; p<0.001), respectively. This study showed that Orychophragmus violaceus had the highest metal absorption rate (ES 15.528, p<0.001) to help clean up heavy metal contamination, especially in agricultural land and industrial areas. This approach can improve soil quality, enhance plant growth, and reduce health risks, which benefits farmers, policymakers, and environmental agencies.