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Soil aggregate stratification of nematodes and ammonia oxidizers affects nitrification in an acid soil
Author(s) -
Jiang Yuji,
Jin Chen,
Sun Bo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12339
Subject(s) - nitrification , biology , archaea , microfauna , abundance (ecology) , soil microbiology , community structure , microorganism , microbial population biology , ecology , agronomy , soil water , environmental chemistry , botany , bacteria , nitrogen , chemistry , fauna , organic chemistry , genetics
Summary Nitrification plays a central role in global nitrogen cycle, which is affected by interaction between soil microfauna and microorganisms. The impact of synchronized changes in nematodes and ammonia oxidizers within aggregate fractions on nitrification was investigated in an acid soil under 10‐year manure application. Nematodes, ammonia oxidizers and potential nitrification activity ( PNA ) were examined in three soil aggregate fractions under four fertilization regimes. Pyrosequencing data revealed that the dominant bacterial amoA operational taxonomic units ( OTUs ) were related to N itrosospira species, while archaeal OTUs were affiliated with N itrososphaera and N itrosotalea species. PNA was more strongly correlated with ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria ( AOB ) abundance than ammonia‐oxidizing archaea ( AOA ) abundance, although AOA were dominant in the acid soil. Plant parasites had a negative effect on AOB abundance; however, bacterivores stimulated AOB abundance and contributed more to PNA than plant parasites. Aggregate fractions exerted significant impacts on AOA abundance and AOB community composition. Total carbon content strongly affected the abundance and composition of AOA community, while soil pH primarily affected that of AOB community. Soil variables explained 62.7% and 58.1% variations, and nematode variables explained 11.7% and 19.5% variations in the AOA and AOB community composition respectively.