Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic Analysis

The combined application of chemical fertilizers with organic materials contributes to higher contents of bioavailable phosphorus. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. A field experiment including four treatments, chemical fertilizer (CF), chemical fertilizer with biochar (CB...

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Main Authors: Wei Yang, Yue Jiang, Jiaqi Zhang, Wei Wang, Xuesheng Liu, Yu Jin, Sha Li, Juanjuan Qu, Yuanchen Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1693
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author Wei Yang
Yue Jiang
Jiaqi Zhang
Wei Wang
Xuesheng Liu
Yu Jin
Sha Li
Juanjuan Qu
Yuanchen Zhu
author_facet Wei Yang
Yue Jiang
Jiaqi Zhang
Wei Wang
Xuesheng Liu
Yu Jin
Sha Li
Juanjuan Qu
Yuanchen Zhu
author_sort Wei Yang
collection DOAJ
description The combined application of chemical fertilizers with organic materials contributes to higher contents of bioavailable phosphorus. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. A field experiment including four treatments, chemical fertilizer (CF), chemical fertilizer with biochar (CB), chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer (CO), and chemical fertilizer with biochar and organic fertilizer (CBO), was conducted to explore how the combination of fertilizer applications enhanced soil phosphorus bioavailability using metagenomic sequencing technology. The results showed that chemical fertilizers combined with organic materials (CB, CO, and CBO) significantly increased citrate-extractable phosphorus by 34.61–138.92% and hydrochloric acid-extractable phosphorus contents by 72.85–131.07% compared to CF. In addition, the combined applications altered the microbial community structure and increased the abundance of <i>phoR</i>, <i>spoT</i>, and <i>ppnK</i> genes, but decreased those of <i>gcd</i>, <i>phoD</i>, and <i>ppk1</i> genes. A partial least squares path model indicated that the combined applications regulated the microbial community composition and gene abundance of phosphorus-cycling microorganisms by influencing soil physicochemical properties, thereby enhancing soil phosphorus cycling. Correlation analysis indicated that pH, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus were the key factors influencing microbial communities, while available nitrogen and total nitrogen primarily regulated phosphorus cycling gene abundance. In addition, the CO and CBO treatments significantly increased maize yield by 14.60% and 21.04%, respectively. Overall, CBO most effectively enhanced bioavailable phosphorus content and maize yield. This study provides a foundation for developing rational fertilization strategies and improving soil phosphorus use efficiency.
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spelling doaj-art-ba3742fac716447cb9964e9404aebe5d2025-08-20T03:13:39ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-07-01157169310.3390/agronomy15071693Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic AnalysisWei Yang0Yue Jiang1Jiaqi Zhang2Wei Wang3Xuesheng Liu4Yu Jin5Sha Li6Juanjuan Qu7Yuanchen Zhu8School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaNortheast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, ChinaThe combined application of chemical fertilizers with organic materials contributes to higher contents of bioavailable phosphorus. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. A field experiment including four treatments, chemical fertilizer (CF), chemical fertilizer with biochar (CB), chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer (CO), and chemical fertilizer with biochar and organic fertilizer (CBO), was conducted to explore how the combination of fertilizer applications enhanced soil phosphorus bioavailability using metagenomic sequencing technology. The results showed that chemical fertilizers combined with organic materials (CB, CO, and CBO) significantly increased citrate-extractable phosphorus by 34.61–138.92% and hydrochloric acid-extractable phosphorus contents by 72.85–131.07% compared to CF. In addition, the combined applications altered the microbial community structure and increased the abundance of <i>phoR</i>, <i>spoT</i>, and <i>ppnK</i> genes, but decreased those of <i>gcd</i>, <i>phoD</i>, and <i>ppk1</i> genes. A partial least squares path model indicated that the combined applications regulated the microbial community composition and gene abundance of phosphorus-cycling microorganisms by influencing soil physicochemical properties, thereby enhancing soil phosphorus cycling. Correlation analysis indicated that pH, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus were the key factors influencing microbial communities, while available nitrogen and total nitrogen primarily regulated phosphorus cycling gene abundance. In addition, the CO and CBO treatments significantly increased maize yield by 14.60% and 21.04%, respectively. Overall, CBO most effectively enhanced bioavailable phosphorus content and maize yield. This study provides a foundation for developing rational fertilization strategies and improving soil phosphorus use efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1693organic materialsbioavailable phosphorusmetagenomics sequencingphosphorus cycling genes
spellingShingle Wei Yang
Yue Jiang
Jiaqi Zhang
Wei Wang
Xuesheng Liu
Yu Jin
Sha Li
Juanjuan Qu
Yuanchen Zhu
Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic Analysis
Agronomy
organic materials
bioavailable phosphorus
metagenomics sequencing
phosphorus cycling genes
title Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic Analysis
title_full Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic Analysis
title_fullStr Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic Analysis
title_short Organic Materials Promote Soil Phosphorus Cycling: Metagenomic Analysis
title_sort organic materials promote soil phosphorus cycling metagenomic analysis
topic organic materials
bioavailable phosphorus
metagenomics sequencing
phosphorus cycling genes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1693
work_keys_str_mv AT weiyang organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT yuejiang organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT jiaqizhang organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT weiwang organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT xueshengliu organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT yujin organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT shali organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT juanjuanqu organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis
AT yuanchenzhu organicmaterialspromotesoilphosphoruscyclingmetagenomicanalysis