Changes in Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea and Bacterial Communities and Soil Nitrogen Dynamics in Response to Long-Term Nitrogen Fertilization

Abstract

Ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) mediate a crucial step in nitrogen (N) metabolism. The effect of N fertilizer rates on AOA and AOB communities is less studied in the wheat-fallow system from semi-arid areas. Based on a 17-year wheat field experiment, we explored the effect of five N fertilizer rates (0, 52.5, 105, 157.5, and 210 kg ha−1 yr−1) on the AOA and AOB community composition. This study showed that the grain yield of wheat reached the maximum at 105 kg N ha−1 (49% higher than control), and no further significant increase was observed at higher N rates. With the increase of N, AOA abundance decreased in a regular trend from 4.88 × 107 to 1.05 × 107 copies g−1 dry soil, while AOB abundance increased from 3.63 × 107 up to a maximum of 8.24 × 107 copies g−1 dry soil with the N105 treatment (105 kg N ha−1 yr−1). Application rates of N fertilizer had a more significant impact on the AOB diversity than on AOA diversity, and the highest AOB diversity was found under the N105 treatment in this weak alkaline soil. The predominant phyla of AOA and AOB were Thaumarchaeota and Proteobacteria, respectively, and higher N treatment (N210) resulted in a significant decrease in the relative abundance of genus Nitrosospira. In addition, AOA and AOB communities were significantly associated with grain yield of wheat, soil potential nitrification activity (PNA), and some soil physicochemical parameters such as pH, NH4-N, and NO3-N. Among them, soil moisture was the most influential edaphic factor for structuring the AOA community and NH4-N for the AOB community. Overall, 105 kg N ha−1 yr−1 was optimum for the AOB community and wheat yield in the semi-arid area.

Nanoattapulgite reduces the stimulation effect of nitrogen fertilizer on ammonia‐oxidizing microorganisms in salinized fluvo‐aquic soil

“…Omoarchaea served as the primary phylum of AOA, and Proteobacteria served as the primary phylum of AOB in this study. The result is the same as those of Xu et al (2022) in alkaline soil. Previous studies have shown that the α diversity of AOB rose with the application rate of N, but the α diversity of AOA did not change significantly (Liu, Coyne, et al, 2020; Liu, Ma, et al, 2020; Zou et al, 2022).…”

Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Rhizosphere Soil Microbial Community and Yield of Wheat in Loess Plateau

“…Ammonia oxidizing archaea was the main driving force of ammonia oxidation process. Xu et al 18 found that AOA community was significantly associated with soil potential nitrification ( PNA ), NH4-N and NO3-N. Liu et al 19 also confirmed that AOA was sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer input and showed a downward trend, which was consistent with the trend under N0, N6 and N12 treatments in this study.…”

Increases in the soil ammonia oxidizing phylotypes and their rechange due to long-term irrigation with wastewater

“…Long term wastewater irrigation has changed soil quality in Mezquital Valley affecting several characteristics that include, variations in soil pH, the increase of CE and C and N stocks, and the input of pollutants. All these changes influence the structure community of ammonia oxidizers, particularly by the specific niches of these microorganisms [ 49 , 83 ]. The use of wastewater for irrigation was determinant in the establishment of AOA and AOB, due to the N-inputs, and the settled community of both groups are well adapted the current physicochemical environment.…”