Exploring the Impact of Goaf Water on Maize Growth from a Microbial Perspective

• • Goaf water significantly inhibited maize growth, with lower-depth samples causing more pronounced inhibition, indicating depth-dependent toxicity. • • Metagenomic sequencing revealed distinct microbial community compositions at different depths, with lower-depth water enriching specific taxa potentially linked to plant growth modulation. • • The study highlights the role of microbial metabolic pathways in mediating the effects of goaf water on maize, suggesting that microbial community analysis is crucial for ecological risk assessment. • • Findings underscore the need to consider microbial factors in evaluating the environmental impact of goaf water, beyond conventional physicochemical parameters.