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Long‐term nitrogen fertilization decreases bacterial diversity and favors the growth of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in agro‐ecosystems across the globe
Author(s) -
Dai Zhongmin,
Su Weiqin,
Chen Huaihai,
Barberán Albert,
Zhao Haochun,
Yu Mengjie,
Yu Lu,
Brookes Philip C.,
Schadt Christopher W.,
Chang Scott X.,
Xu Jianming
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.14163
Subject(s) - actinobacteria , acidobacteria , agronomy , human fertilization , proteobacteria , biology , ecosystem , soil organic matter , soil ph , soil carbon , ecology , soil water , bacteria , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna
Long‐term elevated nitrogen (N) input from anthropogenic sources may cause soil acidification and decrease crop yield, yet the response of the belowground microbial community to long‐term N input alone or in combination with phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) is poorly understood. We explored the effect of long‐term N and NPK fertilization on soil bacterial diversity and community composition using meta‐analysis of a global dataset. Nitrogen fertilization decreased soil pH , and increased soil organic carbon (C) and available N contents. Bacterial taxonomic diversity was decreased by N fertilization alone, but was increased by NPK fertilization. The effect of N fertilization on bacterial diversity varied with soil texture and water management, but was independent of crop type or N application rate. Changes in bacterial diversity were positively related to both soil pH and organic C content under N fertilization alone, but only to soil organic C under NPK fertilization. Microbial biomass C decreased with decreasing bacterial diversity under long‐term N fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria , but reduced the abundance of Acidobacteria , consistent with the general life history strategy theory for bacteria. The positive correlation between N application rate and the relative abundance of Actinobacteria indicates that increased N availability favored the growth of Actinobacteria . This first global analysis of long‐term N and NPK fertilization that differentially affects bacterial diversity and community composition provides a reference for nutrient management strategies for maintaining belowground microbial diversity in agro‐ecosystems worldwide.