The advantages of fertilization in increasing crop yield have been widely recognized,but the long-term effect and mechanism of fertilization on heavy metal accumulation and potential ecological risks in different types of purple soil in Southwest China remain unclear. In this study,we conducted a long-term positioning experiment of maize-cabbage rotation for 13 consecutive years. Four treatments,namely,chemical fertilizer application(NPK),organic fertilizer application(M),organic-inorganic combination application (NPKM),and control without fertilizer application(CK),of acidic,neutral,and calcareous purple soil,were established. The soil physicochemical indicators and the total amount of heavy metals in the topsoil of each treatment,including Cu,Zn,Cd,Ni,Pb,and Cr,were measured. The Nemero comprehensive pollution index(PN)and potential ecological risk index(RI)were separately calculated by using the single-factor pollution index(P)i . The characteristics and ecological risks of soil heavy metal pollution after long-term fertilization were evaluated. Furthermore,the relationship between soil physicochemical index variables,comprehensive pollution index of heavy metals,and potential ecological risks were analyzed through the partial least squares path model(PLS-PM). The results showed that the physicochemical indexes of soil and the total amount of heavy metals were significantly different under different application treatments and soil types(P < 0. 05),and the effect of the application treatment was significantly higher than that of soil type. Compared to that in the NPK treatment,the average increase in soil organic carbon(SOC),available potassium(AK),and available phosphorus(AP)content in the NPKM and M treatments was 62. 53%-236. 07%,105%-505.71%,and 444.92%-1 269.95%,respectively. Each application treatment significantly changed the pH of acidic and neutral purple soil,with a significant decrease of 1. 58 and 1. 87 under the NPK treatment and an average increase of 0. 61-1. 70 under the NPKM and M treatments. After long-term fertilization, the total amount of heavy metals in the three different types of purple soil increased. The average increase in the total amount of heavy metals under the NPKM and M treatments (93.63% and 96.39%)was higher than that under the NPK treatment(51. 79%). After long-term application of organic fertilizer,the PN was higher,with the highest PN under the M treatment of calcareous purple soil,reaching a moderate hazard level. Moreover,the RI of each treatment in acidic and neutral purple soil was higher than that in calcareous purple soil,and the pollution level and ecological risk of the heavy metals Cd and Pb were higher. The redundancy analysis of physical and chemical factors,PN,and RI showed that AP, ∆pH(relative to the initial soil pH change),and NO3−-N explained 57.7%,11.2%,and 9.7% of the variance variation,reaching a significant level. The PLS-PM analysis results showed that long-term fertilization increased the accumulation of heavy metals by increasing soil AP and exacerbating pH changes,leading to potential ecological risks. The results can provide a theoretical basis for nutrient management and heavy metal pollution prevention in arable land with purple soil. © 2024 Science Press. All rights reserved.