Humic acids buffer the effects of urea on soil ammonia oxidizers and potential nitrification

Humic acids (HAs) play an important role in the global nitrogen cycle by influencing the distribution, bioavailability, and ultimate fate of organic nitrogen. Ammonium oxidation by autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) is a key process in ecosystems and is limited, in part, by the availability of NH₄⁺. We evaluated the impact of HAs on soil AOB in microcosms by applying urea (1.0%, equal to 10 mg urea/g soil) with 0.1% bHA (biodegraded lignite humic acids, equal to 1 mg/g soil), 0.1% cHA (crude lignite humic acids) or no amendment. AOB population size, ammonium and nitrate concentrations were monitored for 12 weeks after urea and HA application. AOB densities (quantified by real-time PCR targeting the amoA) in the Urea treatments increased about ten-fold (the final abundance: 5.02 × 10⁷ copies (g of dry soil)⁻¹) after one week of incubation and decreased to the initial density after 12 weeks incubation; the population size of total bacteria (quantified by real-time PCR with a universal bacterial probe) decreased from 1.12 × 10¹⁰ to 2.59 × 10⁹ copies (g of dry soil)⁻¹ at week one and fluctuated back to the initial copy number at week 12. In the Urea + bHA and Urea + cHA treatments, the AOB densities were 4 and 6 times higher, respectively, than the initial density of approximately 5.07 × 10⁶ copies (g of dry soil)⁻¹ at week 1 and did not change much up to week 4; the total bacteria density changed little over time. The AOB and total bacteria density of the controls changed little during the 12 weeks of incubation. The microbial community composition of the Urea treatment, based on T-RFLP using CCA (canonical correspondence analysis) and pCCA (partial CCA) analysis, was clearly different from those of other treatments, and suggested that lignite HAs buffered the change in diversity and quantity of total bacteria caused by the application of urea to the soil. We hypothesize that HAs can inhibit the change in microbial community composition and numbers, as well as AOB population size by reducing the hydrolysis rate from urea to ammonium in soils amended with urea.     

Seagrass (Zostera marina) promotes nitrification potential and selects specific ammonia oxidizers in coastal sediments

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Seagrasses accelerate sedimentation, release oxygen and organic matter through their roots, and compete with ammonia oxidizers for ammonia/ammonium in surface...     

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.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on abundance and activity of ammonia oxidizers in soil

Biology and Fertility of Soils - Recent evidence from several environments suggest that besides autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are also able to...     

施用生物炭抑制塌陷区复垦土壤硝化作用

生物炭具有培肥土壤和影响土壤氮素转化的效应,但对于不同肥力尤其是极低肥力的采煤塌陷复垦区土壤氮素转化方面缺乏研究。该文采用室内恒温控湿好气培养的方法,研究生物炭在不同氮肥水平下对肥力差异较大的两种土壤(肥力高的菜地土壤、肥力极低的塌陷区复垦土壤)硝化作用的影响。试验设2种氮肥水平、3种生物炭施用量。结果发现,相对于菜地土壤,塌陷区复垦土壤硝化作用缓慢,土壤最大硝化速率仅为菜地土壤的17.32%,且最大硝化速率出现的时间延迟4.2 d。高氮条件下,土壤硝化作用进行得较慢,施入生物炭后对硝化作用的抑制增强,并使土壤硝化加速阶段延长6 d(塌陷区复垦土壤)至11 d(菜地土壤)。塌陷区土壤尤其在高氮条件下最大硝化速率出现的时间明显随生物炭添加量增加而逐渐延迟,而土壤最大硝化速率不受生物炭及氮肥水平的影响。但菜地土壤土壤最大硝化速率值、最大硝化速率出现的时间值显著受氮肥水平及生物炭施用量影响。因此,生物炭对硝化作用的抑制主要表现在硝化作用的加速阶段,抑制强度受氮肥水平和土壤类型交互作用影响。     

Response of ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers to repeated applications of a nitrification inhibitor and a urease inhibitor in two pasture soils

Purpose

The nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazol-phosphate (DMPP) and the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT) can mitigate N losses through reducing nitrification and ammonia volatilization, respectively. However, the impact of repeated applications of these inhibitors on nitrogen cycling microorganisms is not well documented. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the abundance and community structure of the functional microorganisms involved in nitrification and denitrification in Australian pasture soils after repeated applications of DMPP and nBTPT.

Materials and methods

Soil was collected in autumn and spring, 2014 from two pasture sites where control, urea, urea ammonium nitrate, and urea-coated inhibitors had been repeatedly applied over 2 year. Soil samples were analyzed to determine the potential nitrification rates (PNRs), the abundances of amoA, narG, nirK and bacterial 16S rRNA genes, and the community structure of ammonia oxidizers.

Results and discussion

Two years of urea application resulted in a significantly lower soil pH at Terang and a significant decrease in total bacterial 16S rRNA gene abundance at Glenormiston and led to significantly higher PNRs and abundances of ammonia oxidizers compared to the control. Amendment with either DMPP or nBTPT significantly decreased PNRs and the abundance of amoA and narG genes. However, there was no fertilizer- or inhibitor-induced change in the community structure of ammonia oxidizers.

Conclusions

These results suggest that there were inhibitory effects of DMPP and nBTPT on the functional groups mediating nitrification and denitrification, while no significant impact on the community structure of ammonia oxidizers was observed. The application of nitrification or urease inhibitor appears to be an effective approach targeting specific microbial groups with minimal effects on soil pH and the total bacterial abundance.

     

添加生物炭改善菜地土壤氨氧化细菌群落并提高净硝化率

  【目的】  氨氧化过程是硝化作用的限速步骤,对氮循环有着重要影响。本研究通过分析生物炭输入下土壤氨氧化微生物群落的变化,揭示其影响土壤硝化作用的生物学机制。  【方法】  以华北潮土区设施菜地土壤为对象,设置生物炭梯度 (C₀、C_0.5、C_1.5、C_4.0) 土壤培养试验,结合PCR和T-RFLP等分析技术,观测生物炭输入下土壤氨氧化细菌群落变化动态,解析生物炭、土壤硝化作用与氨氧化细菌群落之间的关系。  【结果】  添加生物炭明显改变了土壤氨氧化微生物群落结构及氮素硝化过程。与未添加生物炭处理相比,生物炭添加处理培养前期土壤氨氧化细菌群落Shannon、Evenness指数分别升高5.4%～18.8%、26.2%～33.8%,后期Shannon指数降低20.7%～34.2%。生物炭输入对AOA群落没有明显影响,AOB群落256、58 bp代表物种丰度分别增加61.4%～56.0%、60.6%～78.6%,488 bp代表物种丰度降低22.8%～26.9%。21 bp代表物种丰度前期增加后期降低,与491 bp代表物种丰度变化相反。添加生物炭土壤AOB amoA基因丰度增加48.9%～53.2%。土壤NO₃–-N含量提高1.7%～25.6%,NH₄+-N含量下降13.4%～31.1%,土壤净硝化速率提高21.8%～70.2%。  【结论】  生物炭的输入可以改善以AOB为主的土壤氨氧化微生物群落结构,提高amoA酶活性,但是对氨氧化古菌微生物群落结构未产生明显影响。因此,生物炭提高土壤净硝化速率的作用与其对土壤氨氧化细菌群落和组成的影响密切相关。     

长期施肥对酸性土壤氨氧化微生物群落的影响

【目的】 长期施肥显著影响着酸性土壤的pH,研究由此引起的土壤中氨氧化古菌 (ammonia-oxidizing archaea,AOA) 和氨氧化细菌 (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AOB) 的变化,为土壤培肥提供理论依据。 【方法】 供试土壤为27年长期定位施肥试验的红壤,供试作物为玉米。选择不施肥对照 (CK)、氮肥120 kg/(hm2·a)(N)、氮磷钾肥 (NPK) 和猪粪2000 kg/(hm2·a)(OM) 4个处理采集土壤样品,测定了土壤基本理化性状;利用qPCR、PCR-DGGE方法,分析土壤AOA和AOB群落丰度与组成。 【结果】 1) 长期定位施肥导致土壤pH值发生显著变化,N处理的土壤pH值最低,仅为4.03,其次是NPK和CK处理的土壤,OM处理土壤pH值最高,接近中性达6.40。2) 与CK相比,长期施肥提高了土壤有机质、全氮、铵态氮和硝态氮含量。3)OM处理显著提高了土壤NH₃浓度,而其它处理对NH₃浓度无显著影响。4) 施肥显著增加了土壤AOA的丰度,OM处理提升幅度最大;AOA丰度与土壤有机质碳、全氮呈极显著正相关 (P < 0.01),与铵态氮、土壤NH ₃浓度呈显著正相关 (P < 0.05),与土壤pH、硝态氮关系不显著 ( P > 0.05);施肥改变了AOA的群落结构,CK、N、NPK处理的群落结构差异不显著,OM处理与另外三个处理差别较大。主要AOA类群是Group 1.1b,少数属于Group 1.1a-associated。RDA分析表明,土壤pH值、有机质、总氮、铵态氮、土壤中NH ₃浓度是导致AOA群落变化的主要环境因子。5) 仅OM处理对AOB丰度和群落产生了显著影响,主要类群是Nitrosospira Cluster 3,少数属于Nitrosospira Cluster 9。AOB丰度与土壤NH₃浓度呈极显著正相关 (P < 0.01),与有机质碳、全氮呈显著正相关关系 ( P < 0.05),与土壤pH、铵态氮、硝态氮关系均不显著 ( P > 0.05)。 【结论】 长期施用不同肥料对酸性土壤的理化性质影响差异大,AOA和AOB的丰度和群落结构也发生了明显变化,尤其是施加有机肥之后。来自不同处理的大部分AOA属于Group 1.1b类群,少数属于Group 1.1a-associated类群。仅在OM处理中检测到AOB类群,大部分属于Nitrosospira Cluster 3,少数属于Nitrosospira Cluster 9。      

Long-term greenhouse vegetable cultivation alters the community structures of soil ammonia oxidizers

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Continuous cropping obstacles derived from long-term intensive cultivation has severely affected the healthy development of greenhouse vegetable industry in China....     

Crop yield and soil nitrogen dynamics in an intermittently flooded rice field affected by nitrification inhibitors

A field experiment was conducted to study yield and soil N dynamics in an irrigated, intermittently submerged rice field at New Delhi, India, where chemically synthesized as well as neem derived urea coating nitrification inhibitors with prilled urea were applied. Rice (var. IR-32) was grown on a Typic Ustochrept alluvial soil. No nitrogen (control), prilled urea alone, prilled urea mixed with dicyandiamide (DCD), neem (powdered Azadirachta indica Juss. seeds) coated urea and Nimin (commercial derivative of neem) coated urea were tested for their efficacy in regulating yield and conservation of N. None of the inhibitors could increase biomass or grain yield over urea. But all the inhibitors were able to conserve soil ammonium and DCD was the most efficient nitrification inhibitor followed by Nimin coated urea. N-uptake, recovery, physiological and agronomic efficiencies were highest in urea treated plots. The performances of all the inhibitors were against the popular trend where crop yield and N-uptake were enhanced by their application. But, more studies are required on the performance of these inhibitors in rice fields to come to a stronger conclusion.     

Fluctuations in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and the contents of inorganic nitrogen in solarized soil

Solarization makes a great impact on the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and nitrifying activity in soil. To elucidate fluctuations in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and nitrification in solarized soil, copy numbers of amoA gene of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), viable number of ammonia oxidizers and inorganic nitrogen contents were investigated in greenhouse experiments. The copy number of amoA gene and the viable number of ammonia oxidizers were determined by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and most probable number methods, respectively. Abundance of AOB based on the estimation of amoA gene copy numbers and viable counts of ammonia oxidizers was decreased by the solarization treatment and increased during the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation period following the solarization. Effect of solarization on the copy number of amoA gene of AOA was less evident than that on AOB. The proportion of nitrate in inorganic nitrogen contents was declined by the solarization and increased during the tomato cultivation period following the solarization. Positive correlations were found between the proportion of nitrate in inorganic nitrogen content and the copy number of bacterial or archaeal amoA gene or the viable number of ammonia oxidizers; the copy number of bacterial amoA gene showed a strong correlation with the viable number of ammonia oxidizers. The present study revealed influences of solarization on the fluctuation in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and dynamics of inorganic nitrogen contents in soil and the results indicate that the determination of amoA gene of AOB is possibly a quick and useful diagnostic technique for evaluating suppression and restoration of nitrification following solarization.     

不同生育期苹果园土壤氨氧化微生物丰度研究

【目的】大量施氮引起的土壤酸化问题已严重制约苹果的安全生产。氨氧化微生物驱动的土壤硝化作用是土壤氮素循环的重要环节,探析苹果园土壤中氨氧化微生物氨单加氧酶基因(amoA)丰度与土壤硝化强度(Potential Nitrification,PN)和土壤理化性质的相关性,有助于评价土壤氨氧化微生物类群在苹果园土壤生态系统中的作用。【方法】本研究以辽宁省丹东东港地区‘寒富’苹果园土壤为研究对象,采用实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time PCR)技术,检测苹果树不同生育时期, 4月28日(萌芽期)、 7月24日(新梢停长期)、 10月23日(落叶期)的两个苹果园(分别编号为D1和D2)的土壤理化性质、 土壤硝化强度、 氨氧化古菌(Ammonia-oxidizing archaea, AOA)和氨氧化细菌(Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, AOB)的amoA基因丰度,并分析了氨氧化微生物丰度与土壤理化性质和土壤硝化强度之间的关系。【结果】不同生育时期‘寒富’苹果园土壤理化因子差异较大。所有供试土壤的硝态氮(NO-3-N)、 速效磷(AP)和速效钾(AK)含量在4月份最高,铵态氮(NH+4-N)含量在7月最高,NO-3-N、 NH+4-N、 AP和AK含量在10月多为最低。且所有供试土壤pH值均在4.25~6.09之间。同一生育时期内,D2土壤pH均显著高于D1土壤,但其NO-3-N和NH+4-N含量则不同程度地低于D1土壤。不同采样时期的果园土壤硝化强度随季节变化表现出先降后增的趋势,除7月D2土壤硝化强度显著高于D1土壤外,4月与10月D2土壤硝化强度均显著低于D1土壤。尽管不同采样时期的土壤AOA与AOB丰度随生育期而各异,所有供试土壤中AOA丰度均显著高于AOB丰度。同一时期内,D2土壤AOA和AOB丰度均显著高于D1土壤。尽管土壤pH、 NO-3-N与AOA、 AOB均表现出显著相关性,土壤PN仅与AOA丰度明显正相关。【结论】长期施肥导致苹果园土壤pH值降低,pH值的改变是影响AOA与AOB丰度的重要因子,果园土壤的硝化过程主要由AOA来完成,土壤硝化强度与季节变化引起的温度和土壤环境因子等的改变密切相关。苹果园无机氮肥混合有机肥的施入,同时结合自然生草、 人工刈割等管理制度,在一定程度上可改变土壤氮素的含量与种类,减缓土壤酸化。     

Aggregate-related changes in network patterns of nematodes and ammonia oxidizers in an acidic soil

Nitrification plays a central role in global nitrogen cycle, which is affected by biological interaction between soil microfauna and microorganisms. However, the complexity of soil biotic communities made it difficult to reveal organizational principles of the community and the interactions among species. Here, we used the network analysis to decipher the interactions between nematodes and ammonia oxidizers within aggregate fractions under 10-year manure application, and examine their associations with soil variables and potential nitrification activity (PNA). Three aggregate fractions included large macroaggregates (>2000 μm, LA), small macroaggregates (250–2000 μm, SA), and inter-aggregate soil and space (<250 μm, IA). Aggregate factions showed a remarkable effect on association networks of nematodes and ammonia oxidizers. The average connectivity (avgK) and the number of edges in overall networks increased with increasing aggregate sizes, while the average geodesic distance (GD) followed the opposite trend. The LA network could be viewed as a better organized or a better operational soil food web with more functional interrelated members than the SA and IA networks. The modules related to PNA were significantly correlated and clustered together as meta-modules in networks of aggregate fractions. The role-shifts prevailed among the network members such as significant module memberships (MMs) and generalist/specialist operational taxonomic units (OTUs). A half of shared nodes were further identified as shared MMs, dominated by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) especially for Nitrosospira cluster 3a and 10. Soil pH could explain partly the shift of module hubs in different networks, while grazing by bacterivores might account for three exclusively connecters related to Nitrososphaera clusters 1.1. The strongly coupled modules correlated positively to pH and total carbon (TC), regardless of aggregate fractions. The network analysis approach provided new insights into potential importance of network interactions between nematodes and ammonia oxidizers in soil nitrogen cycling.     

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.

     

The short-term effects of nitrification inhibitors on the abundance and expression of ammonia and nitrite oxidizers in a long-term field experiment comparing land management

Microcosms were set up to evaluate the effect of nitrification inhibitors (DCD, c-PTiO, and NaClO₃) on the abundance and expression of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), as well as the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) Nitrospira and Nitrobacter. Both DCD and NaClO₃ inhibited the net nitrification rate, while c-PTiO had no significant effects, and NaClO₃ had a much greater inhibitory effect (> 60%) in all soils than DCD. No significant changes in total microbial abundance were observed with DCD and NaClO₃. DCD limited only the growth of AOB; however, NaClO₃ inhibited growth of both AOA and Nitrospira-NOB with no significant effects on AOB and Nitrobacter-NOB. Probably NaClO₃ inhibited both ammonia oxidation and nitrite oxidation. This is the first report to reveal the inhibitory effects of NaClO₃ on a specific nitrification process, helping to clarify the ecological niche of nitrifiers and the potential of nitrification inhibitors applied to soil.     

Promotion effects of salt-alkali on ammonia volatilization in a coastal soil

Coastal ecosystems are highly susceptible to salt-related problems due to their formation process and geographical location. As such ecosystems are the most accessible land resources on Earth, clarifying and quantifying the effects of salt-alkali conditions on N concentration and ammonia(NH₃) volatilization are pivotal for promoting coastal agricultural productivity. The challenge in establishing this effect is to determine how salt-alkali conditions impact NH₃ volatilizati...     

Response of soil enzymes to Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) addition in soil microcosms

Soil enzymatic activities (phosphatases, arylsulphatase and dehydrogenase) were measured in microcosm systems designed for the study of the impact of a commercial mixture of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate (LAS) homologues on a xerofluvent agricultural soil. The soil microcosms consisted of glass columns filled with 800 g of dry soil which were fed with sterile commercial LAS solutions at concentrations of 10 or 50 mg l⁻¹ for periods of time up to 21 days. A soil microcosm fed with sterile distilled water was included in this study and considered as control. Our results showed that the continuous application of the anionic surfactant to soil increased the values of the enzymes acid and alkaline phosphatases and arylsulphatase. On the contrary, the dehydrogenase activity was decreased by the continuous application of 10 or 50 mg l⁻¹ LAS when compared with control microcosms. In addition, a statistically negative correlation was found between this enzymatic activity in the upper portion of the soil columns amended with LAS and the viable counts of heterotrophic aerobic microorganisms. Moreover, in order to test the influence of LAS on nutrient availability and, consequently, on bacteria populations and soil biological activities, phosphate concentration was regularly determined in the microcosm leachates. The phosphate concentration tested in the leachate of the microcosm continuously amended with 50 mg l⁻¹ LAS solution was significantly lower than the concentrations detected in the leachate of the microcosms continuously amended with 10 mg l⁻¹ LAS throughout the experiment.     

Long-term fertilization effects on active ammonia oxidizers in an acidic upland soil in China

The effects of long-term fertilization of acidic soils on ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) communities and its ecological implications remain poorly understood. We chose an acidic upland soil site under long-term (27-year) fertilization to investigate ammonia oxidizer communities under four different regimes: mineral N fertilizer (N), mineral NPK fertilizer (NPK), organic manure (OM) and an unfertilized control (CK). Soil net nitrification rates were significantly higher in OM soils than in CK, N or NPK soils. Quantitative analysis of the distribution of amoA genes by DNA-based stable isotope probing revealed that AOA dominate in CK, N and NPK soils, while AOB dominate in OM soils. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and clone library analyses of amoA genes revealed that Group 1.1a-associated AOA (also referred to as Nitrosotalea) were the most dominant active AOA population (>92%), while Nitrosospira Cluster 3 and Cluster 9 were predominant among active AOB communities. The functional diversity of active ammonia oxidizers in acidic soils is affected by long-term fertilization practices, and the responses of active ammonia oxidizers to mineral fertilizer and organic manure are clearly different. Our results provide strong evidence that AOA are more highly adapted to growth at low pH and low substrate availability than AOB, and they suggest that the niche differentiation and metabolic diversity of ammonia oxidizers in acidic soils are more complex than previously thought.