Fertilization practices affect biological nitrogen fixation by modulating diazotrophic communities in an acidic soil in southern China

Biological nitrogen(N)fixation(BNF)driven by diazotrophs is an important pathway for N input in agricultural ecosystems.However,free-living BNF and its associated diazotrophic communities under different fertilization practices in acidic soils are poorly studied.Here,we conducted a long-term(29 years)fertilization experiment to explore how fertilization affected free-living BNF via changing biotic and abiotic variables.The fertilization treatments included an unfertilized control(CK),chemical N,phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)fertilizers(NPK),NPK plus lime(NPKL),NPK plus straw(NPKS),NPK plus straw and lime(NPKSL),and NPK plus manure(NPKM).Compared with CK(1.51 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)),BNF rate was significantly(P<0.05)higher in NPKM(1.99 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1))but lower in NPK(0.55 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)),NPKL(0.61 nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)),and NPKS(0.69nmol C_(2)H_(2)g^(-1)d^(-1)).Similarly,chemical fertilization treatments without manure reduced the gene abundance(0.71×10^(8)-1.18×10^(8)copies g^(-1))andα-diversity(Shannon index,1.11-2.43)of diazotrophic communities,whereas the treatment with manure had a positive effect on diazotrophic abundance(3.23×10^(8)copies g^(-1))and Shannon index(3.36).Non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance(PERMANOVA)suggested that manure application(R^(2)=0.212,P=0.001)had a stronger influence on diazotrophic community composition than the addition of lime(R^(2)=0.115,P=0.019)or straw(R^(2)=0.064,P=0.161).Random forest modeling revealed that BNF rates can be significantly(P<0.05)explained by soil pH(9.9%),diazotrophic community attributes(composition,8.5%;Chao 1 index,8.1%;abundance,6.0%;Shannon index,5.7%),and soil total carbon(5.1%).Partial least squares path modeling(PLS-PM)suggested that the diazotrophic community attributes and soil properties mainly provided direct and indirect contributions to the variations in BNF rates,respectively.The dominant genera,Pelomonas,Azospirillum,and Dechloromonas,were positively associated with BNF rates,with their members being observed as keystone species in the community network.Application of chemical fertilizers combined with manure is an effective practice for improving BNF in acidic soils by affecting soil diazotrophic communities.

Determining the optimum range of soil Olsen P for high P use efficiency, crop yield, and soil fertility in three typical cropland soils

Soil Olsen P level has a major influence on crop yield,efficient P utilization,and soil fertility.In this study,the optimum Olsen P range was determined from long-term(1990–2012)field experiments in three typical soil types of China under single cropping of maize or double cropping of maize and wheat.The critical soil Olsen P value for crop yield was evaluated using three different models,and the relationships among P use efficiency(PUE),Olsen P,and total P were analyzed.The agronomic critical soil Olsen P values obtained from the three models for the neutral soil of Gongzhuling and the calcareous soil of Zhengzhou were similar;however,the values from the linear-linear and linear-plateau models for both maize and wheat were substantially lower than those from the Mitscherlich model for the acidic soil of Qiyang.The PUE response change rates(linear equation slopes)under different soil Olsen P levels were small,indicating slight or no changes in the PUE as the soil Olsen P increased in all three soils.A comparison of the Olsen P levels that achieved the maximal PUE with the agronomic critical values derived from the three models indicated that the linear-plateau model exhibited the best performance.The regression equation coefficients of Olsen P response to total P decreased as follows:Zhengzhou(73 mg g-1)>Qiyang(65 mg g-1)>Gongzhuling(55 mg g-1).The Olsen P level increased as the total P increased,which may result in a decrease in PUE.To achieve a relatively high crop yield,PUE,and soil fertility,the optimum Olsen P range should be 13–40,10–40,and 29–40 mg kg-1 at Gongzhuling,Zhengzhou,and Qiyang,respectively.