effect of 100 mg kg1 silver nanoparticles on maize plants, as well as on the bacteria and fungi in the
plant's rhizosphere and the surrounding bulk soil. Maize biomass measurements, microbial community
fingerprints, an indicator of microbial enzymatic activity, and carbon use diversity profiles are used.
Hereby, it is shown that 100 mg kg1 silver nanoparticles in soil increases maize biomass, and that this
effect coincides with significant alterations of the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere. The bacterial
community in nanosilver exposed rhizosphere shows less enzymatic activity and significantly altered
carbon use and community composition profiles. Fungal communities are less affected by silver nanoparticles,
as their composition is only slightly modified by nanosilver exposure. In addition, the microbial
changes noted in the rhizosphere were significantly different from those noted in the bulk soil, indicated
by different nanosilver-induced alterations of carbon use and community composition profiles in bulk
and rhizosphere soil.