Theme 1-1: Rangeland/Grassland Ecology--Oral Sessions
Description
Soil microbes are important for maintenance of soil fertility and ecosystem functions. Agricultural practices such as land use, seasonality and fertilizer application effect the soil microbial community structure. However, the effect of these management practices on soil microbes and related functions, especially in one specific region, is still not clear.
Therefore, the study was conducted in Kamishihoro, Japan, to determine effect of land use (cropland, grassland), season (summer, spring) and fertilizer (anaerobic digestate, control) on soil microbial community and functions. Experimental procedure included DNA extraction, quantification, purification, amplification of 16SrRNA (bacterial gene) and Next Generation Sequencing (Ion PGM). Data analysis included Qiime-bacterial community structure, PICRUST-bacterial functional diversity predicted based on 16S rRNA data and STAMP- statistics.
Results showed that land use had the strongest influence on microbial communities, with higher relative abundance recorded in grassland in phyla Nitrospirae, Crenarchaeota etc. At family level, grassland had microbes that were found in cropland and 244 more unique microbes. Effect of season was higher in cropland in phyla Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae etc. At family level, summer had more unique microbes in cropland and spring had more unique microbes in grassland. Land use had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on more soil functions related to metabolism, cell communication among others, compared to season and fertilizer. Effect of season was more pronounced in cropland on functions related to metabolism, biosynthesis etc. Although on few functions (4), fertilizer had significant (p < 0.05) effect in cropland and grassland related to transcription and metabolism.
The study showed that land use was the most important factor in determining soil microbial community structure and functions, compared to season and fertilizer. Specifically, grassland had higher relative abundance and functionality compared to cropland. Future research should consider long term effects of imposed treatments on the same.
Included in
Influence of Seasonality and Agricultural Practices on Soil Microbes in Kamishihoro, Japan
Soil microbes are important for maintenance of soil fertility and ecosystem functions. Agricultural practices such as land use, seasonality and fertilizer application effect the soil microbial community structure. However, the effect of these management practices on soil microbes and related functions, especially in one specific region, is still not clear.
Therefore, the study was conducted in Kamishihoro, Japan, to determine effect of land use (cropland, grassland), season (summer, spring) and fertilizer (anaerobic digestate, control) on soil microbial community and functions. Experimental procedure included DNA extraction, quantification, purification, amplification of 16SrRNA (bacterial gene) and Next Generation Sequencing (Ion PGM). Data analysis included Qiime-bacterial community structure, PICRUST-bacterial functional diversity predicted based on 16S rRNA data and STAMP- statistics.
Results showed that land use had the strongest influence on microbial communities, with higher relative abundance recorded in grassland in phyla Nitrospirae, Crenarchaeota etc. At family level, grassland had microbes that were found in cropland and 244 more unique microbes. Effect of season was higher in cropland in phyla Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae etc. At family level, summer had more unique microbes in cropland and spring had more unique microbes in grassland. Land use had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on more soil functions related to metabolism, cell communication among others, compared to season and fertilizer. Effect of season was more pronounced in cropland on functions related to metabolism, biosynthesis etc. Although on few functions (4), fertilizer had significant (p < 0.05) effect in cropland and grassland related to transcription and metabolism.
The study showed that land use was the most important factor in determining soil microbial community structure and functions, compared to season and fertilizer. Specifically, grassland had higher relative abundance and functionality compared to cropland. Future research should consider long term effects of imposed treatments on the same.
