Nitrapyrin affects the abundance of ammonia oxidizers rather than community structure in a yellow clay paddy soil

Purpose

Yellow clay paddy soil (Oxisols) is a low-yield soil with low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in southern China. The nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (2-chloro-6- (tricholoromethyl)-pyridine, CP) has been applied to improve NUE and reduce environmental pollution in paddy soil. However, the effects of nitrapyrin combined with nitrogen fertilizers on ammonia oxidizers in yellow clay paddy soil have not been examined.

Materials and methods

A randomized complete block design was set with three treatments: (1) without nitrogen fertilizer (CK), (2) common prilled urea (PU), and (3) prilled urea with nitrapyrin (NPU). Soil samples were collected from three treatments where CK, PU, and NPU had been repeatedly applied over 5 years. Soil samples were analyzed by quantitative PCR and 454 high-throughput pyrosequencing of the amoA gene to investigate the influence of nitrapyrin combined with nitrogen on the abundance and community structure of ammonia oxidizers in yellow clay paddy soil.

Results and discussion

The potential nitrification rate (PNR) of the soil was significantly correlated with the abundances of both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Application of urea significantly stimulated AOA and AOB growth, whereas nitrapyrin exhibited inhibitory effects on AOA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the most dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of AOA and AOB were affiliated with the Nitrosotalea cluster and Nitrosospira cluster 12, respectively. AOA and AOB community structures were not altered by urea and nitrapyrin application.

Conclusions

Nitrogen fertilization stimulated nitrification and increased the population sizes of AOA and AOB. Nitrapyrin affected the abundance, but not community structure of ammonia oxidizers in yellow clay soil. Our results suggested that nitrapyrin improving NUE and inhibiting PNR was attributable to the inhibition of AOA growth.

     

Molecular analysis of β-proteobacterial ammonia oxidizer populations in surface layers of a submerged paddy soil microcosm

The structure of the β-proteobacterial autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) communities in a microcosm of submerged paddy soil was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified using AOB-selective primers. Shift in the community composition was observed 4 weeks after submergence. The communities from the surface layers (0–1, 2–3 mm) of the soil microcosm were different from those of the subsurface layers (6–9, > 15 mm) and DGGE bands specific to each layer were detected. The majority of the retrieved sequences were Nitrosospira-like, whereas no Nitrosomonas-like sequences were obtained. The 16S rDNA primer set also amplified sequences that were not related to the known Nitrosospira-Nitrosomonas group, although they showed a close relationship with other groups of β-proteobacteria. The results suggest that Nitrosospira-like populations are dominant AOB populations in the submerged paddy soil, and that the oxic layer of submerged paddy soil harbours the specific AOB.     

pH regulates key players of nitrification in paddy soils

Increasing lines of evidence have suggested the functional importance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) rather than bacteria (AOB) for nitrification in upland soils with low pH. However, it remains unclear whether niche specialization of AOA and AOB occurs in rice paddy wetlands constrained by oxygen availability. Using DNA-based stable isotope probing, we conclude that AOA dominated nitrification activity in acidic paddy soils (pH 5.6) while AOB dominated in alkaline soils (pH 8.2). Nitrification activity was stimulated by urea fertilization and accompanied by a significant increase of AOA in acid soils and AOB in alkaline soils. DNA-based stable isotope probing indicated significant assimilation of ¹³CO₂ for AOA only in acidic paddy soil, while AOB was the solely responsible for ammonia oxidation in the alkaline paddy soil. Phylogenetic analysis further indicated that AOA members within the soil group 1.1b lineage dominated nitrification in acid soils. Ammonia oxidation in the alkaline soil was catalyzed by Nitrosospira cluster 3-like AOB, suggesting that the physiological diversity of AOA is more complicated than previously thought, and soil pH plays important roles in shaping the community structures of ammonia oxidizers in paddy field.     

Effects of biochar and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on soil ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nosZ-N2O reducers in the mitigation of N2O emissions from paddy soils

Purpose

Paddy fields are an important source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission. The application of biochar or the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) to paddy soils have been proposed as technologies to mitigate N₂O emissions, but their mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Methods

An experiment was undertaken to study the combined and individual effects of biochar and DMPP on N₂O emission from a paddy field. Changes in soil microbial community composition were investigated. Four fertilized treatments were established as follows: fertilizer only, biochar, DMPP, and biochar combined with DMPP; along with an unfertilized control.

Results

The application of biochar and/or DMPP decreased N₂O emission by 18.9–39.6% compared with fertilizer only. The combination of biochar and DMPP exhibited higher efficiency at suppressing N₂O emission than biochar alone but not as effective as DMPP alone. Biochar promoted the growth of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), while DMPP suppressed AOB and increased AOA. Applying biochar with DMPP reduced the impact of DMPP on AOB. The nirS-/nirK- denitrifiers were decreased and nosZ-N₂O reducers were increased by DMPP and the combination of DMPP and biochar. The abundance of the nirK gene was increased by biochar at the elongation and heading stages of rice development. Compared with fertilizer only, the application of biochar and/or DMPP promoted the abundance of nosZ genes.

Conclusion

These results suggest that applying biochar and/or DMPP to rice paddy fields is a promising strategy to reduce N₂O emissions by regulating the dynamics of ammonia oxidizers and N₂O reducers.

     

冬种绿肥对水稻土硝化作用的影响

冬闲田种植绿肥是传统的水稻土培肥增产措施,但绿肥-水稻种植系统中,不同绿肥种类对硝化作用的影响规律及调控机制尚不明确.采用盆栽试验,研究了冬种紫云英、油菜、黑麦草对土壤性状及硝化作用的影响,并通过特异性细菌抑制剂(卡那霉素和大观霉素)研究了氨氧化细菌(AOB)和氨氧化古菌(AOA)对硝化作用的相对贡献.结果表明,冬种三...     

水稻生育期内红壤稻田氨氧化微生物数量和硝化势的变化

利用荧光定量PCR(Real-timePCR)技术,通过特异引物检测amoA基因拷贝数分析了水稻不同生育期红壤稻田土壤中氨氧化细菌(Ammonia oxidizing bacteria,AOB)和氨氧化古菌(Ammonia oxidizing archaea,AOA)的数量变化,并测定了土壤潜在硝化势。结果显示:红壤稻田土壤中AOA数量显著高于AOB,二者比例在1.6～120.7之间;红壤稻田根层土中AOA数量显著高于表土,随水稻生长根层和表土中AOA数量均逐渐增加,且根层土中增加幅度更大;在水稻生长前期表土中AOB数量较多,孕穗期后根层土中AOB数量显著增加且高于表土。水稻生长期内土壤潜在硝化势也具有逐渐增加趋势,且根层土潜在硝化势增加幅度更大。根层土中潜在硝化势与AOB和AOA数量均呈显著正相关,而表土中潜在硝化势只与AOA数量存在显著正相关。研究表明,红壤稻田土壤中AOA数量更为丰富,且与硝化作用的关联程度更为密切,证实了氨氧化微生物在红壤稻田土壤微生物组成及其生态系统功能中的重要性。     

Abundance and community structure of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria in an acid paddy soil

Nitrification is essential to the nitrogen cycle in paddy soils. However, it is still not clear which group of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms plays more important roles in nitrification in the paddy soils. The changes in the abundance and composition of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were investigated by real-time PCR, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, and clone library approaches in an acid red paddy soil subjected to long-term fertilization treatments, including treatment without fertilizers (CT); chemical fertilizer nitrogen (N); N and potassium (NK); N and phosphorus (NP); N, P, and K (NPK); and NPK plus recycled crop residues (NPK+C). The AOA population size in NPK+C was higher than those in CT, while minor changes in AOB population sizes were detected among the treatments. There were also some changes in AOA community composition responding to different fertilization treatments. Still few differences were detected in AOB community composition among the treatments. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the AOA sequences fell into two main clusters: cluster A and cluster soil/sediment. The AOB composition in this paddy soil was dominated by Nitrosospira cluster 12. These results suggested that the AOA were more sensitive than AOB to different fertilization treatments in the acid red paddy soil.     

基于宏基因组学的酸性森林土壤氨氧化微生物群落特征研究

全球30%以上陆地面积是酸性土壤(pH5.5),而酸性土壤中氨氧化微生物群落特征研究是破译其硝化过程微生物学机理的基础。尤其随着完全硝化微生物(Complete ammonia oxidizer,comammox)的发现,亟需重新认知酸性土壤中氨氧化微生物类群。以酸性马尾松林为研究对象,综合利用荧光定量PCR(qPCR)、凝胶电泳半定量和宏基因组测序等技术研究土壤中氨氧化古菌(Ammonia-oxidizing archaea,AOA)、氨氧化细菌(Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AOB)和Comammox的相对丰度以及群落组成特征。研究发现AOA和AOB amoA基因丰度分别为2.61×106 copies·g~(-1)和1.45×106copies·g~(-1);而comammoxamoA基因qPCR结果存在显著的非特异性扩增,导致其丰度被高估,而经凝胶电泳半定量矫正后,约为(1.38～1.47)×106copies·g~(-1),该结果和土壤宏基因测序揭示的comammox相对丰度基本吻合。此外,宏基因组分析发现经典嗜酸group1.1a-associated仅占AOA总类群的12%,而group1.1b则占88%,尽管目前仍未有嗜酸group 1.1b AOA纯菌株的报道。AOB主要类群为Nitrosospira(约64%),而Nitrosomonas约占36%。Comammox主要类群为clade B(约64%),而clade A仅占36%且均隶属于clade A.1亚枝,这暗示clade B与已报道的嗜中性comammox clade A纯菌株有极大的生理代谢差异。总之,本研究提供了综合利用qPCR、半定量和宏基因组分析土壤氨氧化微生物群落的策略,并建议优化comammox的qPCR引物,同时本研究系统分析了酸性马尾松林土壤中氨氧化微生物的相对丰度和群落组成特征。     

两种农田土壤中的氨氧化细菌和氨氧化古菌对硝化抑制剂DCD和DMPP的响应-盆栽试验

Taking two important agricultural soils with different pH, brown soil （Hap-Udic Luvisol） and cinnamon soil （Hap-Ustic Luvisol）, from Northeast China, a pot culture experiment with spring maize （Zea mays L.） was conducted to study the dynamic changes in the abundance and diversity of soil ammonia-oxidizing bacteria （AOB） and ammonia-oxidizing archaea （AOA） populations during maize growth period in response to the additions of nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide （DCD） and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate （DMPP） by the methods of real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR） assay, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE）, and construction of clone library targeting the amoA gene. Four treatments were established, i.e., no urea （control）, urea, urea plus DCD, and urea plus DMPP. Both DCD and DMPP inhibited growth of AOB significantly, compared to applying urea alone. Soil bacterial amoA gene copies had a significant positive linear correlation with soil nitrate content, but soil archaeal amoA gene copies did not. In both soils, all AOB sequences fell within Nitrosospira or Nitrosospira-like groups, and all AOA sequences belonged to group 1.1b crenaxchaea. With the application of DCD or DMPP, community composition of AOB and AOA in the two soils had less change except that the AOB community composition in Hap-Udic Luvisol changed at the last two growth stages of maize under the application of DCD. AOB rather than AOA likely dominated soil ammonia oxidation in these two agricultural soils.     

Influence of bacterial-feeding nematodes on nitrification and the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) community composition

The effects of bacterial-feeding nematodes on nitrification and the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) community composition were studied in soil microcosms. Sterilized soils were inoculated with mixed soil bacteria (obtained by filtering) or with bacteria and bacterial-feeding nematodes, after which the dynamic inorganic nitrogen concentration was measured weekly. After 28 days of incubation, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) based on PCR amplification of the amoA gene was used to analyze the AOB community composition. In addition, a clone library from the amoA gene fragments was established using clones randomly selected and sequenced from the two treatments. The results showed that the presence of bacterial-feeding nematodes led to significantly greater NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ contents over the entire incubation period, indicating that bacterial-feeding nematodes promoted both N mineralization and nitrification. The results of DGGE showed that the AOB community composition was significantly changed in the presence of bacterial-feeding nematodes. Furthermore, the sequencing results suggested that Nitrosospira sp. was the dominant species in the treatment without nematodes, while Nitrosomonas sp. and Nitrosospira sp. were the dominant species in the treatment with nematodes. Such changes in the AOB community may be one of explanation of the important role that nematodes play in promoting nitrification.     

Classification of chemoautotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria using pyruvate kinase genes as high resolution phylogenetic markers

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationship of β-proteobacterial ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) is mainly based on comparative sequence analyses of the genes encoding the 16S rRNA (16S rDNA) and the active site polypeptide of the ammonia monooxygenase (AmoA). However, classification of AOB with different morphotypes is not possible based solely on these markers. Pyruvate kinase (PYK), which is a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, functions at a primary metabolic intersection. The gene sequence of PYK is known to be a phylogenetic marker for bacteria and has been used for this purpose. The phylogenetic relationships of closely related AOB, ‘Nitrosolobus’, ‘Nitrosovibrio’ and Nitrosospira, were estimated based on pyk (PYK), a housekeeping and protein-coding gene. As a result, the pyk phylogenetic tree of the AOB showed a high resolution compared with the tree based on 16S rDNA sequences. Therefore, we conclude that analysis of the PYK gene sequences could play an important role in the in-depth classification and identification of AOB at a rank below the genus level.     

Abundance and composition of ammonia oxidizers in response to degradation of root cap cells of rice in soil microcosms

Purpose

Nitrification is a key process in the global nitrogen cycle, of which the first and rate-limiting step is catalyzed by ammonia monooxygenase. Root cap cells are one of substrates for microorganisms that thrive in the rhizosphere. The degradation of root cap cells brings about nitrification following ammonification of organic nitrogen derived from the root cap cells. This study was designed to gain insights into the response of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) to mineralized N from root cap cells and the composition of active bacterial and archaeal ammonia oxidizers in rice soil.

Materials and methods

Rice callus cells were used as a model for root cap cells, and unlabelled (¹²C) and ¹³C-labelled callus cells were allowed to decompose in aerobic soil microcosms. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA-based stable isotope probing (SIP), and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were applied to determine the copy number of bacterial and archaeal amoA genes and the composition of active AOB and AOA.

Results and discussion

The growth of AOB was significantly stimulated by the addition of callus cells compared with the growth of AOA with a much lesser extent. AOB communities assimilated ¹³C derived from the callus cells, whereas no AOA communities grew on ¹³C-callus. Sequencing of the DGGE bands in the SIP experiments revealed that the AOB communities belonging to Nitrosospira spp. dominated microbial ammonia oxidation with rice callus amendment in soil.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that root cap cells of rice significantly stimulated the growth of AOB, and the active members dominating microbial ammonia oxidation belonged to Nitrosospira spp. in rice rhizosphere.     

桂西北不同植被恢复阶段土壤氨氧化细菌遗传多样性研究

以桂西北喀斯特不同植被恢复阶段(草丛、灌木林、次生林、原生林)生态系统为研究对象,运用分子生物学技术分析了土壤氨氧化细菌amoA功能基因多样性,探讨了其与脲酶活性和土壤理化性质的关系.结果显示,随着植被的恢复,土壤氨氧化细菌多样性指数与均匀度指数呈增大趋势(灌木林例外),且土壤中氨氧化细菌群落结构发生了改变:主要表现在因Nitrosospira3簇种群对铵态氮浓度敏感度差异导致其在3a、3b簇中分布不一致;相关分析表明;土壤脲酶活性与铵态氮浓度呈正相关关系,土壤脲酶可能通过影响铵态氮浓度改变氨氧化细菌多样性,但植被恢复后期土壤铵态氮浓度减少并未降低土壤氨氧化细菌多样性.LIBSHUFF和RDA分析揭示,植被类型和土壤脲酶活性及pH与氨氧化细菌群落结构紧密相关,说明植被和土壤氮素有效性以及pH可能是决定土壤氨氧化细菌多样性的主要因子,为深入理解喀斯特地区土壤氮素循环提供了一定的科学依据.     

稻虾共作模式下稻田土壤氨氧化微生物丰度和群落结构的特征

【目的】研究稻虾共作模式下土壤氨氧化微生物数量、群落多样性及群落结构,深入了解该模式下的土壤微生态环境的演变。【方法】试验点在湖北省荆州市长江大学农学院基地,设置稻虾共作模式 (CR) 与常规中稻种植模式 (MR),借助荧光定量PCR技术与Illumina Miseq高通量测序平台,分析了土壤氨氧化细菌 (AOB) 与古菌 (AOA) 丰度、多样性及群落结构。【结果】与MR模式相比,CR模式显著提高了土壤硝态氮、总碳及总氮含量,对土壤pH、碱解氮及土壤碳氮比无显著影响。CR模式土壤AOA与AOB amoA基因拷贝数为3.13 × 105和7.01 × 105 copies/g干土,MR模式土壤AOA、AOB amoA基因拷贝数为1.41 × 105和3.87 × 105 copies/g干土,两个模式土壤AOB的数量均显著高于AOA,CR模式土壤AOA、AOB的数量均显著高于MR模式 (P < 0.05)。α群落多样性指数表明,相比MR,CR模式显著降低了土壤AOA群落多样性,对AOB群落多样性无显著影响。Venn结果分析,CR模式增加了AOA amoA基因的物种,改变了AOB amoA基因的物种组成,且AOB amoA物种数量下降。在属水平上,norank_c_environmental_samples_p_Thaumarchaeota、unclassified_k_norank_d_Archaea、norank_c_environmental_samples_p_Crenarchaeota、norank_p_environmental_samples_k_norank为AOA的优势类群,相对丰度占AOA amoA基因总序列的99.25%～99.46%,CR模式显著提高了norank_c_environmental_samples_p_Crenarchaeota在AOA群落属水平的相对丰度;unclassified_k_norank_d_Bacteria、norank_f_environmental_samples、norank_o_environmental_samples_c_Betaproteobacteria、unclassified_o_Nitrosomonadales为AOB的优势类群,相对丰度共占97.78%～98.49%,且CR模式显著增加了norank_o_environmental_samples_c_Betaproteobacteria与unclassified_o_Nitrosomonadales在AOB群落属水平的相对丰度。冗余分析 (RDA) 结果显示,土壤基本理化性质对于土壤AOA、AOB群落结构影响有着相似的趋势,其中对AOA、AOB群落结构影响最大的因子是硝态氮,其次分别为总碳、铵态氮、碱解氮、pH。根据RDA投影距离分析,稻虾共作模式对土壤AOA群落结构的影响大于AOB,且MR与稻虾共作模式土壤AOB的群落结构具有一定的相似度。【结论】稻虾共作模式显著降低了AOA群落多样性,而对AOB群落无显著影响;稻虾共作模式显著增加了AOA与AOB的丰度并显著影响了群落结构组成。土壤硝态氮、总碳、铵态氮、碱解氮、pH含量是导致土壤微生物数量、多样性及群落结构变化的主要原因。     

围垦对崇明东滩湿地全程氨氧化微生物的影响

全程氨氧化微生物（comammox）的发现根本改变了学术界对硝化过程的认识，但其地理分异规律及对氮转化过程的贡献仍不清楚。本研究选择长江口崇明东滩不同围垦年限（0、27、51、86年）稻田表层耕作土壤，采用好氧培养试验测定土壤硝化潜力；通过标靶功能基因amoA实时荧光定量硝化微生物的数量变异特征，包括全程氨氧化细菌（comammox）、氨氧化细菌（AOB）和古菌（AOA）。结果表明，与围垦0年的自然滩涂湿地相比，围垦27、51、86年的水稻土净硝化速率从2.24mg N /(kg·d)分别增加至19.3、11.6和11.4mg N /(kg·d)，增幅高达5.1-8.7倍。土壤氨氧化古菌AOA的丰度与围垦年限显著正相关。自然滩涂湿地中氨氧化古菌AOA和AOB的数量分别为0.34×107 copies/g和1.14×107 copies/g，围垦86年后增幅最高可达27.9倍。自然滩涂湿地中comammox Clade A和Clade B amoA基因拷贝数高于围垦稻田土壤，且Clade A随着围垦年限增加其丰度显著增加。统计分析发现，氨氧化细菌AOB与土壤硝化速率显著正相关，可能在围垦水稻土氨氧化过程中发挥了重要作用；而全程硝化细菌comammox Clade A和Clade B与土壤总有机碳（TOC）、铵含量（NH4+）呈显著负相关关系，可能更适应于营养贫瘠的滩涂自然湿地土壤。     

Responses of bacterial and archaeal ammonia oxidisers of an acidic luvisols soil to different nitrogen fertilization rates after 9?years

It is still not clear which group of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms plays the most important roles in nitrification in soils. Change in abundances and community compositions of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) under long-term different nitrogen (N) fertilization rates were investigated in an acidic luvisols soil using real-time polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, respectively, based on the ammonia monooxygenase a-subunit gene. The experimental plan included the following treatments: control without N fertilization (N_CK), low N fertilization rate, middle N fertilization rate, and high N fertilization rate as 0, 100, 150, and 250?kg urea-N?ha^?1, respectively. Long-term different N fertilization rates did not significantly alter the total C and N contents of soil while it significantly decreased soil pH, which ranged from 5.60 to 5.20. The AOB abundance was more abundant in the N fertilization treatments than the N_CK treatment; the AOA abundance decreased by the increasing N fertilization rates, as did the ratios of AOA/AOB. The large differences in the potential nitrification rates among four treatments depended on the changes in AOA abundance but not to changes in AOB abundance. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the AOB communities were dominated by Nitrosospira clusters 1, 3, and 9 while all AOA sequences were grouped into soil/sediment cluster except for one sequence. Taken together, these results indicated that AOB and AOA preferred different soil N conditions and AOA were functionally more important in the nitrification than AOB in the acidic luvisols soil.     

Different roles of rhizosphere effect and long-term fertilization in the activity and community structure of ammonia oxidizers in a calcareous fluvo-aquic soil

Ammonia oxidation is a critical step in the soil nitrogen (N) cycle and can be affected by the application of mineral fertilizers or organic manure. However, little is known about the rhizosphere effect on the function and structure of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) and archaeal (AOA) communities, the most important organisms responsible for ammonia oxidation in agricultural ecosystems. Here, the potential nitrification activity (PNA), population size and composition of AOB and AOA communities in both the rhizosphere and bulk soil from a long-term (31-year) fertilizer field experiment conducted during two seasons (wheat and maize) were investigated using the shaken slurry method, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. N fertilization greatly enhanced PNA and AOB abundance, while manure application increased AOA abundance. The community structure of AOB exhibited more obvious shifts than that of AOA after long-term fertilization, resulting in more abundant AOB phylotypes similar to Nitrosospira clusters 3 and 4 in the N-fertilized treatments. Moreover, PNA was closely correlated with the abundance and community structure of AOB rather than that of AOA among soils during both seasons, indicating that AOB play an active role in ammonia oxidation. Conversely, the PNA and population sizes of AOB and AOA were typically higher in the rhizosphere than the bulk soil, implying a significant rhizosphere effect on ammonia oxidation. Cluster and redundancy analyses further showed that this rhizosphere effect played a more important role in shaping AOA community structure than long-term fertilization. Overall, the results indicate that AOB rather than AOA functionally dominate ammonia oxidation in the calcareous fluvo-aquic soil, and that rhizosphere effect and fertilization regime play different roles in the activity and community structures of AOB and AOA.     

氮素水平对土壤甲烷氧化和硝化微生物相互作用的影响

甲烷氧化微生物和氨氧化微生物均是既可以氧化甲烷(CH₄)又可以氧化氨(NH₃),氨氧化是硝化作用的限速步骤,也是好氧土壤氧化亚氮(N₂O)排放的主要生物路径。选取内蒙古草原围封禁牧土壤为研究对象,利用稳定同位素核酸探针技术(DNA-SIP)探讨不同氮水平下土壤活性甲烷氧化微生物与硝化微生物及其相互作用机制。结果发现低氮添加促进甲烷氧化活性,而高氮添加抑制甲烷氧化活性;低氮和高氮添加均显著增强硝化活性。基于DNA-SIP的高通量测序结果发现Methylobacter MOB和Nitrosospira AOB/Nitrospira NOB分别是该土壤的主要活性甲烷氧化和硝化微生物。网络结构分析发现Methylobacter MOB和Nitrosospira AOB/Nitrospira NOB存在显著负相关关系,进一步证明活性甲烷氧化和硝化微生物之间存在竞争性相互作用。以上结果表明,氮素水平影响草原土壤甲烷氧化和硝化微生物的相互作用,研究结果为采取措施调控草原土壤CH₄的汇和N₂O...     

Effect of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on the community composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in soil previously cultivated with Medicago sativa

The community composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was studied during four stages of plant development in soil cultivated with Phaseolus vulgaris in comparison to unplanted soil, using an alfisol previously harboring the legume Medicago sativa. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) patterns of 16S rRNA gene and clone libraries of the same gene suggested that bacteria related to Nitrosospira cluster 3 were dominant in both planted and unplanted soil. Bacteria related to Nitrosomonas cluster 8 (Nitrosomonas communis cluster) were found at all times in planted soil, but appeared only randomly in unplanted soil. Analysis of PCR products of the gene encoding the alpha-subunit of ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) by DGGE and clone libraries only detected Nitrosospira cluster 3-like organisms, but failed to detect sequences related to Nitrosomonas. The results suggest that P. vulgaris does not affect the dominant members of AOB communities (Nitrosospira cluster 3), but could have an effect on the prevalence of Nitrosomonas cluster 8 in this type of legume-planted alfisol.     

High contribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) to ammonia oxidation related to a potential active AOA species in various arable land soils

Purpose

Ammonia oxidation is the limiting step in soil nitrification and critical in the global nitrogen cycle. The discovery of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) has improved our knowledge of microbial mechanisms for ammonia oxidation in complex soil environments. However, the relative contributions of AOA and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to ammonia oxidation remain unclear.

Materials and methods

In this study, through large geographical scale sampling in China, totally nine samples representing various types of arable land soils were selected for analyzing the ammonia oxidation activity. The AOA and AOB activities were separately determined by using the dicyandiamide and 1-octyne inhibition method. High-throughput pyrosequencing and DNA stable-isotope probing (DNA-SIP) analysis were applied to investigate the distribution and activity of Candidatus Nitrosocosmicus franklandus in the arable land soils.

Results and discussion

In this study, AOA abundance (3.2?×?10⁷–3.4?×?10⁹ copies g^?1) and activity (0.01–1.33 mg N kg^?1 dry soil day^?1) were evaluated for nine selected arable land soils and accounted for 4–100% of ammonia oxidation. By separately determining AOA and AOB rates, we observed that archaeal ammonia oxidation dominated the ammonia oxidation process in six soils, revealing a considerable contribution of AOA in ammonia oxidation in arable land soils. Based on high-throughput pyrosequencing analysis, the AOA species Ca. N. franklandus with relatively low abundance (0.6–13.5% in AOA) was ubiquitously distributed in all the tested samples. Moreover, according to the DNA-SIP analysis for Urumqi sample, the high activity and efficiency of Ca. N. franklandus in using CO₂ suggests that this species plays an important role in archaeal ammonia oxidation in arable land soils.

Conclusions

Through determining the AOA activity and analyzing the potential predominant functional AOA species, this study greatly improves our understanding of ammonia oxidation in arable land soils.