Comparison of Soil Bacterial Communities from Juvenile Maize Plants of a Long-Term Monoculture and a Natural Grassland

Abstract

Nowadays, one of the most important challenges is to ensure sustainable agricultural management of crops such as maize (Zea mays L.). Long-term crop production, however, may influence the soil properties, the composition and activity of microbial communities. The aim of this study was to compare the catabolic activity and taxonomic diversity of bacterial communities inhabiting the soil of a non-fertilized maize monoculture and a natural grassland. Samples were taken from the horizons A and C in the first part of the vegetation period. MicroResp™ technique was used to explore the catabolic potential of microbial communities and next generation amplicon sequencing to reveal the bacterial diversity. Based on the catabolic activity results, higher differences were revealed among the soil horizons than the different land uses. The highest degree carbon source utilization was detected in the soil horizon A of the natural grassland. The taxonomic composition of bacterial communities was dominated by Proteobacteria. The relative abundance of other dominant phyla (Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi and Patescibacteria) varied according to both the land use and soil depth. Amplicon sequences belonging to genera of r-strategist “copiotrophic” and K-strategist “oligotrophic” bacteria were identified from the soils of both maize monoculture and grassland.

Forecrop Effects on Abundance and Diversity of Soil Microorganisms during the Growth of the Subsequent Crop

“…In this study, we showed that, generally, the Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were present in lower abundance in the reference soil during the whole analysis period in comparison with soils enriched with plant residues (Figure S5). Many other studies have revealed that these copiotrophic bacteria are abundant in soil that is rich in easily decomposable organic matter [53,54]. The opposite situation was noted for phyla Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia, which are oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) and were abundant especially in R soil.…”

Vegetation Dynamics in a Loess Grassland: Plant Traits Indicate Stability Based on Species Presence, but Directional Change When Cover Is Considered

“…The grassland is 2 km away from the residential area and is avoided by traffic routes, so human disturbance and trampling practically do not affect the study site. The slope is covered with Haplic Chernozem (loamic) soil according to IUSS Working Group WRB [ 56 ], which is characterised by the following physico-chemical properties: pH H2O = 7.1 ± 0.1, pH KCl = 6.8 ± 0.1, C org = 4.00% ± 0.18, N tot = 0.48% ± 0.02, CaCO 3 content by Scheibler calcimeter = 5.07% ± 2.69, plant available P 2 O 5 = 104 ± 46.7 and K 2 O = 260 ± 11.0 mg/kg (ammonium-lactate soluble), NH 4 + -N = 8.57 ± 0.42 mg/kg, nitrate-N = 1.82 ± 0.56 [ 57 ].…”

Chemical Properties and Bacterial Community Reaction to Acidified Cattle Slurry Fertilization in Soil from Maize Cultivation

“…However, larger amounts of carbon and nitrogen do not affect the development of oligotrophic bacteria, which include mainly Acidobacteria. This group of bacteria has a more economical life strategy than copiotrophic bacteria and occurs in soils poor in nutrients [45][46][47]. Therefore, the introduction of large amounts of organic matter into the soil can interfere with the natural O:K ratio and thus negatively affect biological soil homeostasis [48].…”