Long-term straw return with moderate nitrogen levels reshapes soil bacterial communities in a vertisol
IntroductionIncorporating straw into the soil is a sustainable practice that can mitigate some of the adverse effects of excessive N fertilization on soil structure degradation and microbial diversity reduction.MethodsThis objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of straw manage...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1554657/full |
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| Summary: | IntroductionIncorporating straw into the soil is a sustainable practice that can mitigate some of the adverse effects of excessive N fertilization on soil structure degradation and microbial diversity reduction.MethodsThis objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of straw management (straw return and straw removal) and N fertilization (0, 360, 450, 540, 630, and 720 kg N ha−1 yr.−1) on crop yields, soil properties, and soil microbial communities in a long-term wheat-maize cropping system.Results and discussionThe results showed that moderate N application (N450–N540) with straw return optimized wheat (283.5 kg ha−1) and maize (346.5 kg ha−1) yields, whereas higher N fertilization (N630, N720) led to soil acidification (pH decline of 0.51–1.67 units), irrespective of straw management. Straw return increased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate (NO3−-N), and available potassium (AK), but decreased ammonium (NH4+-N). Bacterial diversity increased at moderate N rates but decreased at higher N rates. Fungal diversity was generally higher under straw removal, with Chaetomiaceae increasing under straw return, whereas Mortierellaceae and Trichocomaceae declined at high N levels. The Mantel test showed a strong correlation between soil pH and bacterial diversity, while fungal composition was influenced by SOC, TN, and NO3−-N. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) demonstrated that N fertilization directly and indirectly increased wheat yield through improved soil properties, while straw return enhanced bacterial diversity, indirectly supported wheat yield. This study highlights the importance of balanced N fertilization and straw incorporation in maintaining bacterial community structure, fertility, and long-term crop productivity in intensive cropping systems on Vertisol. |
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| ISSN: | 1664-302X |