Season and management related changes in the diversity of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria over winter and spring

This study assessed the effects that season and tillage practices have on the diversity of nitrous oxide producing bacteria (nitrifiers and denitrifiers) and to relate this to measured N₂O fluxes at our field site. Large-scale field plots (1.5 ha) were established in Elora, Ontario in 2000, and managed using conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT). Each field plot was instrumented with micrometeorological equipment to determine N₂O fluxes on a field scale. Soil samples were taken at four time points between the fall of 2005 and the spring of 2006. The diversity of the nitrifier and denitrifier communities was assessed by PCR–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) using primer pairs targeting the amoA, nirS and nirK gene. Seasonal variation (a combination of soil temperature, available soil moisture, nutrient levels and other potential factors) had the largest influence on the diversity of nitrifier and denitrifier populations; while tillage practice also influenced the diversity of the microbial community at certain time periods. Tillage significantly affected all communities in March and affected denitrifiers on all other dates except for the nirS community in February. Further statistical analysis revealed that diversity of the nitrifying and denitrifying populations was the lowest in February, in frozen soils, and rapidly increased in March, corresponding with spring thaw N₂O emissions. Long-term soil nutrient, temperature and N₂O data taken at this site added additional information on the dynamics of the nitrogen cycle.