等碳投入的有机肥和生物炭对红壤微生物多样性和土壤呼吸的影响

施用有机肥是快速培育瘠薄土壤的一个重要措施。针对中亚热带第四纪红黏土发育的红壤旱地,建立了玉米和花生单作系统等碳量投入有机肥和生物炭的田间试验,利用聚合酶链式反应—变性梯度凝胶电泳(polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,PCR-DGGE)方法研究了土壤细菌和真菌群落组成和多样性的变化,分析了土壤呼吸速率(CO2通量)的变化及其与微生物多样性的关系。两年的试验表明,不同施肥方式导致微生物群落结构显著分异,施用有机肥和生物炭显著增加了细菌多样性,但施肥第二年真菌多样性有下降趋势。秸秆和猪粪配施显著增加了土壤呼吸速率,土壤呼吸速率与细菌和真菌多样性呈显著正相关,细菌多样性对土壤呼吸的影响(相对贡献率为71%)显著高于真菌(29%)。土壤磷素(全磷和速效磷)含量的变化是驱动红壤微生物多样性变化的主导因素,其对细菌和真菌多样性的相对贡献率分别为44.8%和47.4%。因此,合理配施秸秆和猪粪可以快速提高瘠薄红壤的生物功能。     

高通量测序技术在微生物分子生态学研究中的应用

微生物在众多的自然和人工生态系统中发挥着核心的作用,但能够被培养分离的微生物在大部分生态系统中只占极少一部分,极大地限制了人们对微生物组成、功能及其潜在应用的认识。分子生物学方法,尤其是高通量测序技术应用到微生物生态学研究中,为认识微生物多样性、群落结构组成及其生态功能提供了有利手段。高通量测序作为一种新兴的免培养分子生物学技术,具备检测快速、准确、信息全面丰富等特点。随着高通量测序技术的不断升级换代,测序通量、读长和准确度的不断提升以及成本的大幅下降,该技术在过去十几年间被迅速应用于土壤、水体和肠道等微生物区系的研究中。本文简述了基于高通量测序技术的PCR产物测序技术和宏基因组学测序技术的原理、发展历程、数据分析方法与应用,以及宏基因组学测序技术在病毒学领域的应用,以期为微生物分子生态学研究提供参考。     

Microbial diversity and soil functions

Soil is a complex and dynamic biological system, and still in 2003 it is difficult to determine the composition of microbial communities in soil. We are also limited in the determination of microbially mediated reactions because present assays for determining the overall rate of entire metabolic processes (such as respiration) or specific enzyme activities (such as urease, protease and phosphomonoesterase activity) do not allow any identification of the microbial species directly involved in the measured processes. The central problem posed by the link between microbial diversity and soil function is to understand the relations between genetic diversity and community structure and between community structure and function. A better understanding of the relations between microbial diversity and soil functions requires not only the use of more accurate assays for taxonomically and functionally characterizing DNA and RNA extracted from soil, but also high‐resolution techniques with which to detect inactive and active microbial cells in the soil matrix. Soil seems to be characterized by a redundancy of functions; for example, no relationship has been shown to exist between microbial diversity and decomposition of organic matter. Generally, a reduction in any group of species has little effect on overall processes in soil because other microorganisms can take on its function. The determination of the composition of microbial communities in soil is not necessary for a better quantification of nutrient transformations. The holistic approach, based on the division of the systems in pools and the measurement of fluxes linking these pools, is the most efficient. The determination of microbial C, N, P and S contents by fumigation techniques has allowed a better quantification of nutrient dynamics in soil. However, further advances require determining new pools, such as active microbial biomass, also with molecular techniques. Recently investigators have separated ¹³C‐ and ¹²C‐DNA, both extracted from soil treated with a ¹³C source, by density‐gradient centrifugation. This technique should allow us to calculate the active microbial C pool by multiplying the ratio between labelled and total DNA by the microbial biomass C content of soil. In addition, the taxonomic and functional characterization of ¹³C‐DNA allows us to understand more precisely the changes in the composition of microbial communities affected by the C‐substrate added to soil.     

Microbial diversity in soil: ecological theories, the contribution of molecular techniques and the impact of transgenic plants and transgenic microorganisms

This review mainly discusses three related topics: the application of ecological theories to soil, the measurement of microbial diversity by molecular techniques and the impact of transgenic plants and microorganisms on genetic diversity of soil. These topics were debated at the Meeting on Soil Emergency held in Erice (Trapani, Italy) in 2001 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Italian Society of Soil Science. Ecological theories have been developed by studying aboveground ecosystems but have neglected the belowground systems, despite the importance of the latter to the global nutrient cycling and to the presence of life on the Earth. Microbial diversity within the soil is crucial to many functions but it has been difficult in the past to determine the major components. Traditional methods of analysis are useful but with the use of molecular methods it is now possible to detect both culturable and unculturable microbial species. Despite these advances, the link between microbial diversity and soil functions is still a major challenge. Generally studies on genetically modified bacteria have not addressed directly the issue of microbial diversity, being mainly focused on their persistence in the environment, colonization ability in the rhizosphere, and survival. Concerns have been raised that transgenic plants might affect microbial communities in addition to environmental factors related to agricultural practice, season, field site and year. Transgenic plant DNA originating from senescent or degraded plant material or pollen has been shown to persist in soil. Horizontal transfer of transgenic plant DNA to bacteria has been shown by the restoration of deleted antibiotic resistance genes under laboratory in filter transformations, in sterile soil or in planta. However, the transformation frequencies under field conditions are supposed to be very low. It is important to underline that the public debate about antibiotic resistant genes in transgenic plants should not divert the attention from the real causes of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, such as the continued abuse and overuse of antibiotics prescribed by physicians and in animal husbandry.     

Taxa-specific changes in soil microbial community composition induced by pyrogenic carbon amendments

The effects of pyrogenic carbon on the microbial diversity of forest soils were examined by comparing two soil types, fire-impacted and non-impacted, that were incubated with laboratory-generated biochars. Molecular and culture-dependent analyses of the biochar-treated forest soils revealed shifts in the relative abundance and diversity of key taxa upon the addition of biochars, which were dependent on biochar and soil type. Specifically, there was an overall loss of microbial diversity in all soils treated with oak and grass-derived biochar as detected by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis. Although the overall diversity decreased upon biochar amendments, there were increases in specific taxa during biochar-amended incubation. DNA sequencing of these taxa revealed an increase in the relative abundance of bacteria within the phyla Actinobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes in biochar-treated soils. Together, these results reveal a pronounced impact of pyrogenic carbon on soil microbial community composition and an enrichment of key taxa within the parent soil microbial community.     

稻虾共作对稻田土壤nirK反硝化微生物群落结构和多样性的影响

稻虾共作是水稻种植与克氏螯虾共作形成的互利共生的稻田种养复合生态模式。目前对稻虾共作模式稻田反硝化微生物多样性和群落结构的影响尚不清楚。本研究以江汉平原常规中稻模式(MR)为对照,设置连续3年(2014—2016年)稻虾共作模式(CR)为处理,通过特异引物提取中稻抽穗期稻田土壤nirK基因,采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术,探讨稻虾共作模式对稻田土壤nirK反硝化微生物多样性和群落结构的影响。结果表明:稻虾共作模式显著提升水稻抽穗期稻田土壤中硝态氮、全氮及全碳的含量,对土壤碳氮比、碱解氮和铵态氮含量没有显著影响。稻虾共作模式显著增加稻田土壤nirK基因微生物的丰富度指数,但对nirK基因微生物的多样性指数影响不显著。稻虾共作模式改变了nirK基因微生物在目、科、属、种水平的群落组成,较常规中稻模式,稻虾共作模式在各分类水平组成类群均减少;稻虾共作模式较常规中稻模式改变了目的种类,对共有目相对丰度没有显著性改变。RDA分析表明稻虾共作模式对土壤nirK基因菌群的群落结构有一定的改变,但稻虾共作模式与常规中稻模式在群落结构上仍保留着一定的相似性。硝态氮含量是影响nirK反硝化细菌群落结构的主效因子。可见,稻虾共作模式对微生物多样性指数没有显著影响,但显著增加了微生物丰富度指数,改变了稻田土壤nirK反硝化微生物在目、科、属、种的群落结构。     

Soil microbial biomass and community composition as affected by cover crop diversity in a short‐term field experiment on a podzolized Stagnosol‐Cambisol

Background: Cover cropping appears as a useful land management practice with numerous benefits for ecosystem functions. Aim: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of different winter cover crops on soil microbial biomass, activity, and community composition in intensively managed agriculture systems as function of cover crop diversity. Methods: For this purpose, an on‐farm experiment was conducted at a podzolized Stagnosol‐Cambisol during seven months growing oil radish as single cover crop and five different cover crop mixtures comprising 5 to 13 plant species. A fallow treatment was used as control. Phospholipid fatty acids were used to determine the soil microbial biomass and soil microbial community composition. Basal respiration of the soil microorganisms was measured as a proxy for microbial activity. Results: The results show that none of the cover crop mixture could increase soil organic carbon or total nitrogen content. Three cover crop mixtures and oil radish as single cover crop significantly increased soil microbial biomass by about 50% and all of the investigated cover crops significantly increased microbial respiration and metabolic quotient by 50–150%. Only highly diverse cover crop mixtures significantly increased individual microbial groups such as Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, actinobacteria, and saprotropic and mycorrhizal fungi by about 20% compared to the control. However, the ratio of fungi to bacteria was not influenced by any of the cover crop mixtures under study. Conclusion: These findings corroborate that aboveground plant diversity is linked to belowground microbial diversity.     

马铃薯||玉米间作对土壤细菌多样性的影响

为探明连续马铃薯、玉米单作及间作种植对土壤细菌群落组成的影响,利用IonS5~(TM)XL高通量测序平台,分析了单作玉米(M)、单作马铃薯(P)、马铃薯||玉米间作(PM)下,土壤细菌群落组成以及多样性间的差异。结果表明:与单作相比,马铃薯||玉米间作土壤有机质含量显著升高(P0.05),但土壤全氮、碱解氮、全磷、速效钾、土壤pH等没有显著变化。所获得的56 787个土壤细菌可操作分类单元(OTUs)共分为46门、55纲、114目、208科、455属。土壤变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)细菌占总相对丰度的57.68%～65.11%,为优势菌门;间作对土壤细菌群落多样性(香农指数、辛普森指数)、丰富度(ACE指数和Chao1指数)无显著影响,但改变了基于门、属水平上的细菌群落组成。与单作马铃薯相比,间作显著降低了土壤变形菌门(Proteobacteria)相对丰度(P=0.023),提高了浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)的相对丰度(P=0.043)。在属水平上,相对丰度较低的芽单胞菌属(Gemmatimonas)、Candidatus Solibacter属更易受到种植方式的影响;间作提高了节杆菌属(Arthrobacter)、芽球菌属(Blastococcus)和芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)的相对丰度。随细菌群落结构变化,细菌群落功能上出现差异,通过KEGG功能预测共得到7个一级功能层, 35个二级功能层,表现出功能上的丰富性,土壤细菌群落在代谢、遗传信息处理和细胞过程方面功能活跃。7个一级功能层中的代谢功能组在马铃薯||玉米间作与马铃薯单作间有显著差异。利用前向选择,经蒙特卡罗检验表明,连续马铃薯、玉米单作及间作栽培5年后的土壤各理化性状指标与土壤细菌群落组成、多样性间的相关性均不显著。连续马铃薯||玉米间作及单作5年条件下土壤细菌群落组成的变化是由马铃薯||玉米间作作物种间互利和竞争关系而驱动的。     

Parasitism by Cuscuta australis affects the rhizhospheric soil bacterial communities of Trifolium repens L.

ABSTRACT

The effect of parasitism on belowground microbial communities is not well understood. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to test the effect of Cuscuta australis parasitism on the composition and diversity of bacterial community in the rhizospheric soil of the host plant Trifolium repens. 94569 sequences were obtained from the amplicons of non-parasitised, and 97172 sequences were obtained from the parasitised rhizospheric soil bacterial community. Parasitism of C. australis significantly decreased the relative abundance of the bacterial phylum Nitrospirae, while it significantly increased that of Verrucomicrobia. Parasitism of C. australis significantly decreased the relative abundance of 10 bacterial genera, while it significantly increased those of nine genera. The Chao 1 indexes of the rhizospheric soil bacterial community of parasitised T. repens were significantly lower than those of non-parasitised T. repens. Principal coordinate analysis (based on the genus) and principal component analysis (based on the predicted gene function of bacterial communities) showed that rhizospheric bacterial communities from parasitised and non-parasitised T. repens differed and can be divided into two groups. These results suggest that infection of the holoparasitic plant could indirectly change the composition, diversity, and function of rhizospheric soil bacteria of the host plant.     

高浓度CO_2地下泄漏对土壤微生物群落结构的影响

通过模拟高浓度CO_2在农田土壤中的地下泄漏,研究了不同浓度CO_2泄漏情景下土壤微生物多样性的变化。实验设置了400 g m~(-2) d~(-1)、800 g m~(-2) d~(-1)、1 200 g m~(-2) d~(-1)和2 000 g m~(-2) d~(-1)持续CO_2通气60 d共计4个处理,并与对照组、恢复组(2 000 g m~(-2) d~(-1)组停止通气60 d后)分期采集土壤样品,分析土壤理化性质、土壤闭蓄的气体浓度、微生物多样性指数及主要类群变化规律。结果表明,4种处理均提高了土壤中CO_2浓度,分别为1.60%、4.80%、10.80%和19.60%。土壤微生物多样性Chao指数和Shannon指数随CO_2通入量增加而减少,降幅分别达17.00%~27.80%和6.10%~9.50%。相反,非度量多维尺度(NMDS)分析显示土壤微生物β多样性在中、低浓度升高,在高、极端浓度表现为降低。拟杆菌属(Bacteroidales)相对丰度随CO_2泄漏量增加从3.09%上升至21.20%,可作为高浓度CO_2泄漏生态安全性评估的敏感性指标。基于高通量序列相似度OTU分类的RDA分析表明土壤环境因子的变化能够较好地解释微生物多样性演替。研究结果为评估和监测地下CO_2泄漏对近地表生态系统环境风险提供科学依据。     

Divergence in the soil and rhizosphere microbial communities of monoculture and silvopastoral traditional C. dodecandra agroforestry systems in Yucatan,Mexico

Numerous works have reported the impact on soil properties and microbial communities of intensive soil management, but very little is known about the impact caused by traditional agroforestry systems carried out by smallholders. To investigate whether the different smallholder's management between a monoculture plantation of Cordia dodecandra trees and a Silvopastoral system has led to a divergence in these ecosystems, soil properties, as well as soil and Cordia dodecandra rhizosphere microbial communities were analysed by MiSeq amplicon sequencing. The main findings were (i) Large variation in the soil properties of the Silvopastoral system suggests that it has a greater heterogeneity; (ii) Organic carbon, organic matter, carbonates, nitrogen, inorganic phosphorous and calcium, was significantly higher in the soil of the Silvopastoral system. (iii) The relative abundance of the major prokaryotic orders in soil and rhizospheres displayed small differences between the two agroforestry systems, and diversity indexes were slightly higher in the Silvopastoral system. (iv) The fungal orders Hypocreales and Pleosporales were more abundant in the Silvopastoral system than in the monoculture. Other evaluated parameters showed only minor or no difference. Thus, the main conclusion is that these soils have diverged in some properties and fungal orders, but not in their prokaryotic communities. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the divergence in soil properties and microbiota of these two extended smallholder agroforestry systems and therefore can serve as reference for future works.     

苯系物(BTEX)长期污染对土壤和地下水微生物群落及代谢潜能的影响

苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯统称为苯系物(BTEX)，是化工污染场地检出率最高的芳香族有机污染物。为研究BTEX长期污染对土壤和地下水微生物群落结构和代谢潜能的影响，采集了江苏省某搬迁化工厂的浅层土、地下水和深层土样品，利用16S rRNA基因扩增子测序和宏基因组测序技术对BTEX长期污染场地展开分析。结果表明：相比较未受污染的土壤样品，长期BTEX污染显著改变了微生物群落结构和多样性，其中以变形菌门改变最为显著。共现性网络分析表明，污染场地中随着样品取样深度的增加，微生物网络复杂性和群落稳定性降低。BTEX代谢功能基因注释表明，地下水样品中污染物代谢基因丰度和多样性更高，并且在地下水和浅层土中同时存在完整的好氧降解途径，但在地下水中厌氧降解基因的丰度更高。BTEX降解途径中benABC和bcrCBAD基因簇在浅层土中更完整，但通过构建BTEX开环的关键基因bamA的系统发育树表明，地下水中可能存在新的BTEX开环基因。这些结果证明BTEX长期污染的不同生境中存在高度多样的微生物群落与降解途径，为相关污染场地的微生物修复提供了科学依据。     

Structural and functional diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities following woody plant encroachment in the southern Great Plains

In the southern Great Plains (USA), encroachment of grassland ecosystems by Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) is widespread. Mesquite encroachment alters net primary productivity, enhances stores of C and N in plants and soil, and leads to increased levels of soil microbial biomass and activity. While mesquite’s impact on the biogeochemistry of the region is well established, it effects on soil microbial diversity and function are unknown. In this study, soils associated with four plant types (C₃ perennial grasses, C₄ midgrasses, C₄ shortgrasses, and mesquite) from a mesquite-encroached mixed grass prairie were surveyed to in an attempt to characterize the structure, diversity, and functional capacity of their soil microbial communities. rRNA gene cloning and sequencing were used in conjunction with the GeoChip functional gene array to evaluate these potential differences. Mesquite soil supported increased bacterial and fungal diversity and harbored a distinct fungal community relative to other plant types. Despite differences in composition and diversity, few significant differences were detected with respect to the potential functional capacity of the soil microbial communities. These results may suggest that a high level of functional redundancy exists within the bacterial portion of the soil communities; however, given the bias of the GeoChip toward bacterial functional genes, potential functional differences among soil fungi could not be addressed. The results of this study illustrate the linkages shared between above- and belowground communities and demonstrate that soil microbial communities, and in particular soil fungi, may be altered by the process of woody plant encroachment.     

功能菌剂与生物炭配施对沙化土壤的影响

研究生物炭和功能菌剂协同调控沙化土壤养分和微生物多样性与功能，可为沙化土壤肥力培育提供理论依据。选择毛乌素沙地典型生态经济林沙化土壤为研究对象，采用田间定位试验，运用高通量扩增测序技术，解析不同添加量(2%,4%,8%)生物炭处理及其配施定量功能菌剂(枯草芽孢杆菌+巨大芽孢杆菌+胶质芽孢杆菌)处理对土壤化学性质及细菌菌群多样性与功能的影响。结果表明：(1)与单一生物炭处理相比，生物炭+功能菌剂处理组土壤有效氮、磷养分含量分别提升44.71%和187.36%;(2)生物炭单施或者配施功能菌剂均使酸杆菌门相对丰度显著降低，而生物炭+功能菌剂处理中厚壁菌门的相对丰度，分别增加163.80%,155.15%,100.21%,并且不同程度上调土壤细菌物种丰富度和多样性；(3)功能菌剂与生物炭配施改变土壤细菌介导的碳氮循环功能，如显著提高土壤细菌的有机物质分解功能，壳聚糖和木聚糖分解过程较对照组分别上升186.54%,242.46%,增强细菌的氨化和呼吸功能，而单施生物炭处理提升细菌的反硝化与固氮功能。综上，生物炭和功能菌剂的添加提高土壤有效氮磷养分含量，显著改变土壤细菌群落多样性与群落功能，生物...     

巯基坡缕石对镉砷复合污染土壤钝化修复及微生物群落的影响

为探究巯基坡缕石对镉(Cd)–砷(As)复合污染土壤的修复效果及其对土壤生态功能的影响,以Cd-As复合污染水稻土为研究对象,探究了1%、2%巯基坡缕石添加对土壤理化性质、Cd和As有效态的影响,并采用高通量测序技术分析了不同处理对土壤微生物群落结构的影响。结果表明:巯基坡缕石添加显著降低了土壤pH,其中2%处理下pH降低更明显。与对照相比,1%和2%巯基坡缕石处理下,土壤有机质含量分别增加了30.2%、60.9%,Cd的有效态含量与毒性特性浸出量分别降低了97.7%～98.3%、77.1%～92.7%,而As的有效性未发生显著变化。巯基坡缕石添加对土壤微生物多样性及丰度无显著影响,但属水平下Pseudanabaena＿NgrPSln22和Pseudomonas的相对丰度显著降低了85.4%～98.1%、75.3%～78.9%。巯基坡缕石处理下土壤微生物群落结构显著改变,其中pH和Cd的有效性是显著影响因素。总之,巯基坡缕石不仅能显著降低Cd有效性,提高土壤有机质含量,还会影响细菌群落结构,增加土壤抗病菌丰度和减少固氮菌丰度。     

植物促生菌接种对中国芥蓝根际固有微生物群落结构的影响

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been widely recognized as an important agent,especially as a biofertilizer,in agricultural systems.The objectives of this study were to select efective PGPR for Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var.alboglabra) cultivation and to investigate the efect of their inoculation on indigenous microbial community structure.The Bacillus sp.SUT1 and Pseudomonas sp.SUT19 were selected for determining the efficiency in promoting Chinese kale growth in both pot and field experiments.In the field experiment,PGPR amended with compost gave the highest yields among all treatments.The Chinese kale growth promotion may be directly afected by PGPR inoculation.The changes of microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of Chinese kale following PGPR inoculation were examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and principal coordinate analysis.The DGGE fingerprints of 16S rDNA amplified from total community DNA in the rhizosphere confirmed that our isolates were established in the rhizosphere throughout this study.The microbial community structures were slightly diferent among all the treatments,and the major changes depended on stages of plant growth.DNA sequencing of excised DGGE bands showed that the dominant species in microbial community structure in the rhizosphere were not mainly interfered by PGPR,but strongly influenced by plant development.The microbial diversity as revealed by diversity indices was not diferent between the PGPR-inoculated and uninoculated treatments.In addition,the rhizosphere soil had more influence on eubacterial diversity,whereas it did not afect archaebacterial and fungal diversities.     

土壤宏病毒组的研究方法与进展

土壤是病毒遗传多样性的储存库,但由于土壤自身特性及技术手段的限制,基于传统培养方法对土壤病毒的研究及功能认知存在局限性。宏病毒组学技术能直接从土壤环境样品中获取病毒基因组,随后通过高通量测序、拼接组装、ORF预测,最终可对病毒基因进行功能注释,极大地丰富了对土壤病毒功能的认识。本文在阐释土壤病毒DNA提取、测序与病毒判别、功能基因注释等研究方法的基础上,重点探讨了单株噬菌体基因组,及近年来国内外土壤与极端陆地环境中宏病毒组研究进展。并对土壤宏病毒基因组研究的前沿和发展趋势进行了总结,强调了土壤病毒研究的整体化、技术流程规范化以及病毒资源库完善化的重要性。     

Shifts in microbial diversity through land use intensity as drivers of carbon mineralization in soil

Land use practices alter the biomass and structure of soil microbial communities. However, the impact of land management intensity on soil microbial diversity (i.e. richness and evenness) and consequences for functioning is still poorly understood. Here, we addressed this question by coupling molecular characterization of microbial diversity with measurements of carbon (C) mineralization in soils obtained from three locations across Europe, each representing a gradient of land management intensity under different soil and environmental conditions. Bacterial and fungal diversity were characterized by high throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes. Carbon cycling activities (i.e., mineralization of autochthonous soil organic matter, mineralization of allochthonous plant residues) were measured by quantifying ¹²C- and ¹³C-CO₂ release after soils had been amended, or not, with ¹³C-labelled wheat residues. Variation partitioning analysis was used to rank biological and physicochemical soil parameters according to their relative contribution to these activities. Across all three locations, microbial diversity was greatest at intermediate levels of land use intensity, indicating that optimal management of soil microbial diversity might not be achieved under the least intensive agriculture. Microbial richness was the best predictor of the C-cycling activities, with bacterial and fungal richness explaining 32.2 and 17% of the intensity of autochthonous soil organic matter mineralization; and fungal richness explaining 77% of the intensity of wheat residues mineralization. Altogether, our results provide evidence that there is scope for improvement in soil management to enhance microbial biodiversity and optimize C transformations mediated by microbial communities in soil.     

Deep incorporation of corn straw benefits soil organic carbon and microbial community composition in a black soil of Northeast China

‘Deep incorporation of corn straw’ (CSDI) is to concentrate the burial of corn straw into the subsurface soil layer (20–40 cm) and to break the plough pan, thereby creating a loosened plough layer (0–20 cm) and a fertile subsurface soil layer. However, its impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the microbial community remain poorly understood. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of 1-year CSDI (CD1), 3-year CSDI (CD3) and 5-year CSDI (CD5) on soil aggregates and aggregate-associated SOC, as well as bacterial and fungal community characteristics (examined by the high-throughput gene sequencing method). The results demonstrated that SOC and soil fungal diversity were decreased by CD1, but increased by CD3 and CD5. Compared with the control, CD5 promoted 2–0.25 mm soil macroaggregation, significantly increased SOC by 8.94% and aggregate-associated SOC by 5.96%–8.84%, consequently improving the physical protection of SOC by soil aggregates. CD3 and CD5 enhanced the richness and diversity of soil bacteria and fungi, and altered community composition. For soil bacteria, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi was increased, while that of Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Sphingomonas and Bacillus was decreased. For soil fungi, the relative abundance of Ascomycota, Zygomycota, Mortierella and Fusarium was greatly improved, but that of Basidiomycota was reduced. These obvious variations in microbial community structure were beneficial to straw degradation and SOC accumulation. Overall, the optimization of microbial community with CSDI plays a positive role in promoting soil organic matter, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, and thus improving soil fertility.     

Atmospheric CO2 enrichment and nutrient additions to planted soil increase mineralisation of soil organic matter, but do not alter microbial utilisation of plant- and soil C-sources

Plants link atmospheric and soil carbon pools through CO₂ fixation, carbon translocation, respiration and rhizodeposition. Within soil, microbial communities both mediate carbon-sequestration and return to the atmosphere through respiration. The balance of microbial use of plant-derived and soil organic matter (SOM) carbon sources and the influence of plant-derived inputs on microbial activity are key determinants of soil carbon-balance, but are difficult to quantify. In this study we applied continuous ¹³C-labelling to soil-grown Lolium perenne, imposing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and nutrient additions as experimental treatments. The relative use of plant- and SOM-carbon by microbial communities was quantified by compound-specific ¹³C-analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). An isotopic mass-balance approach was applied to partition the substrate sources to soil respiration (i.e. plant- and SOM-derived), allowing direct quantification of SOM-mineralisation. Increased CO₂ concentration and nutrient amendment each increased plant growth and rhizodeposition, but did not greatly alter microbial substrate use in soil. However, the increased root growth and rhizosphere volume with elevated CO₂ and nutrient amendment resulted in increased rates of SOM-mineralisation per experimental unit. As rhizosphere microbial communities utilise both plant- and SOM C-sources, the results demonstrate that plant-induced priming of SOM-mineralisation can be driven by factors increasing plant growth. That the balance of microbial C-use was not affected on a specific basis may suggest that the treatments did not affect soil C-balance in this study.