Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox Process

ABSTRACT Improving agricultural productivity to meet the growing food and feed demand via nitrogen fertilization comes with trade‐offs such as environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. Biogas residues (BRs) being a relatively new biofertilizer aiming at substituting chemical nitrogen fertilizer...

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Main Authors: Bella Tsachidou, Magdalena Calusinska, Christophe Hissler, Jérôme Gennen, Benjamin Daigneux, Séverine Piutti, Alexandre Laflotte, Isabelle George, Philippe Delfosse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:GCB Bioenergy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.70050
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author Bella Tsachidou
Magdalena Calusinska
Christophe Hissler
Jérôme Gennen
Benjamin Daigneux
Séverine Piutti
Alexandre Laflotte
Isabelle George
Philippe Delfosse
author_facet Bella Tsachidou
Magdalena Calusinska
Christophe Hissler
Jérôme Gennen
Benjamin Daigneux
Séverine Piutti
Alexandre Laflotte
Isabelle George
Philippe Delfosse
author_sort Bella Tsachidou
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Improving agricultural productivity to meet the growing food and feed demand via nitrogen fertilization comes with trade‐offs such as environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. Biogas residues (BRs) being a relatively new biofertilizer aiming at substituting chemical nitrogen fertilizers, have raised questions regarding their biosecurity and environmental footprint. In this study, we explored and compared the effect of repeated application of different nitrogen fertilizers on the bacterial and fungal α‐diversity, relative abundance, β‐diversity, and taxonomic composition in grassland soils over a period of two years. Given the paramount importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sustainable agriculture and climate change, we examined the relative abundance of Glomeromycota and their response to the different nitrogen fertilizers. Finally, the soil microbial community was scanned for the most prominent pathogens that are often detected in BRs and are the main concern related to their application on agricultural soils. Microbial communities in the soil were identified and quantified via high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA marker gene for bacteria, and the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2) region for fungi. Overall, the results suggest that the soil bacteriome is more sensitive than the mycobiome to nitrogen fertilization. Specifically, ammonium sulfate application appears to negatively impact bacterial alpha‐diversity, while also altering the relative abundance of Glomeromycota, prompting us to question the potential involvement of the sulfammox process in the loss of soil microbial diversity. Notably, the application of biogas residues did not alter the diversity or abundance of soil microbial communities, nor harbored any significant pathogens; therefore, advocating for their safety and encouraging further research to validate their safe nature and beneficial properties.
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spelling doaj-art-9b4a50497cd5417b8aae16ee35bcb91d2025-08-20T03:27:43ZengWileyGCB Bioenergy1757-16931757-17072025-07-01177n/an/a10.1111/gcbb.70050Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox ProcessBella Tsachidou0Magdalena Calusinska1Christophe Hissler2Jérôme Gennen3Benjamin Daigneux4Séverine Piutti5Alexandre Laflotte6Isabelle George7Philippe Delfosse8Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Systèmes Aquatiques Université Libre de Bruxelles Bruxelles BelgiumLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, ERIN Belvaux LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, ERIN Belvaux LuxembourgAgra‐Ost St. Vith BelgiumFerme du Faascht Attert BelgiumLaboratoire Agronomie & Environnement INRAE, Université de Lorraine Nancy FranceDomaine de la Bouzule, ENSAIA Vandoeuvre‐lès‐Nancy FranceLaboratoire d'Ecologie des Systèmes Aquatiques Université Libre de Bruxelles Bruxelles BelgiumUniversity of Luxembourg Esch‐sur‐Alzette LuxembourgABSTRACT Improving agricultural productivity to meet the growing food and feed demand via nitrogen fertilization comes with trade‐offs such as environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. Biogas residues (BRs) being a relatively new biofertilizer aiming at substituting chemical nitrogen fertilizers, have raised questions regarding their biosecurity and environmental footprint. In this study, we explored and compared the effect of repeated application of different nitrogen fertilizers on the bacterial and fungal α‐diversity, relative abundance, β‐diversity, and taxonomic composition in grassland soils over a period of two years. Given the paramount importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sustainable agriculture and climate change, we examined the relative abundance of Glomeromycota and their response to the different nitrogen fertilizers. Finally, the soil microbial community was scanned for the most prominent pathogens that are often detected in BRs and are the main concern related to their application on agricultural soils. Microbial communities in the soil were identified and quantified via high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA marker gene for bacteria, and the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2) region for fungi. Overall, the results suggest that the soil bacteriome is more sensitive than the mycobiome to nitrogen fertilization. Specifically, ammonium sulfate application appears to negatively impact bacterial alpha‐diversity, while also altering the relative abundance of Glomeromycota, prompting us to question the potential involvement of the sulfammox process in the loss of soil microbial diversity. Notably, the application of biogas residues did not alter the diversity or abundance of soil microbial communities, nor harbored any significant pathogens; therefore, advocating for their safety and encouraging further research to validate their safe nature and beneficial properties.https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.7005016S rDNA sequencingammonium sulfateanaerobic digestionbiogas residuesclimate changeITS2 internal transcribed spacer region
spellingShingle Bella Tsachidou
Magdalena Calusinska
Christophe Hissler
Jérôme Gennen
Benjamin Daigneux
Séverine Piutti
Alexandre Laflotte
Isabelle George
Philippe Delfosse
Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox Process
GCB Bioenergy
16S rDNA sequencing
ammonium sulfate
anaerobic digestion
biogas residues
climate change
ITS2 internal transcribed spacer region
title Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox Process
title_full Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox Process
title_fullStr Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox Process
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox Process
title_short Impact of Different Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Diversity and Abundance of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Grassland Soils: The Emerging Case of Ammonium Sulfate and Sulfammox Process
title_sort impact of different nitrogen fertilizers on the diversity and abundance of bacterial and fungal communities in grassland soils the emerging case of ammonium sulfate and sulfammox process
topic 16S rDNA sequencing
ammonium sulfate
anaerobic digestion
biogas residues
climate change
ITS2 internal transcribed spacer region
url https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.70050
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