Long-Term Application of Bio-Compost Increased Soil Microbial Community Diversity and Altered Its Composition and Network

Abstract

The influence of bio-compost on the diversity, composition and structure of soil microbial communities is less understood. Here, Illumina MiSeq sequencing and a network analysis were used to comprehensively characterize the effects of 25 years of bio-compost application on the microbial diversity of soil and community composition. High dosages of bio-compost significantly increased the bacterial and fungal richness. The compositions of bacterial and fungal communities were significantly altered by bio-compost addition. Bio-compost addition enriched the relative abundance of beneficial microorganisms (such as Sphingomonas, Acidibacter, Nocardioides, etc.) and reduced the relative abundance of harmful microorganisms (such as Stachybotrys and Aspergillus). Electrical conductivity, soil organic matter and total phosphorus were the key factors in shaping soil microbial community composition. The bacterial network was more complex than fungal network, and bacteria were more sensitive to changes in environmental factors than fungi. Positive interactions dominated both the bacterial and fungal networks, with stronger positive interactions found in the bacterial network. Functional prediction suggested that bio-composts altered the soil bacterial-community metabolic function with respect to carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and fungal community trophic modes. In conclusion, suitable bio-compost addition is beneficial to the improvement of soil health and crop quality and therefore the sustainability of agriculture.

Date Palm Waste Compost Application Increases Soil Microbial Community Diversity in a Cropping Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Field

“…Our results showed that in comparison with the control, compost fertilization significantly increased the fungal richness and diversity indices at S1, while bacterial richness and diversity indices were significantly decreased at S1 and S3. In agreement with our findings, Liu et al [ 12 ] and Azeem et al [ 9 ] reported that compost application decreased soil bacterial diversity. Similarly, Gao et al [ 37 ] and Luo et al [ 41 ] found that the addition of organic fertilizers such as biochar increased soil fungal diversity.…”

“…Likewise, Sharaf et al [ 39 ] also suggested that bacterial abundance increased under compost amendment in the apple rhizosphere. Moreover, Liu et al [ 12 ] reported that long-term application of biocompost increased soil fungal abundance. On the other hand, our findings are in discordance with the results by Azeem et al [ 9 ], who found that amending turfgrass soils with biochar and compost did not affect bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS rDNA region copy numbers.…”

“…A short-term (227 days) fertilization study showed that compost application increased radish plants biomass, modified the composition of the soil microbial populations, altered network topography and changed network hub taxa [ 3 ]. On the other hand, a long-term (25 years) fertilization study revealed that application of compost in the winter wheat–corn rotation system greatly increased levels of beneficial microbes and reduced the level of harmful [ 12 ].…”

The Application of Mixed Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers Drives Soil Nutrient and Bacterial Community Changes in Teak Plantations

“…The thermal cycling program of the PCR reaction process included an initial denaturation step at 98 °C for 1 min, followed by 30 cycles of denaturation at 98 °C for 10 s, annealing at 50 °C for 30 s, extension at 72 °C for 30 s, and then a final 5-min extension at 72 °C. PCR reactions were subjected to three replicates [ 28 , 44 ].…”

Agricultural soil physico-chemical parameters and microbial abundance and diversity under long-run farming practices: A greenhouse study

“…The results of Chao1 and ACE revealed that soil treatment with inorganic fertilizers can significantly reduce soil bacterial richness than that with the no soil treatment. Similarly, Liu et al (2022) reported increase in Shannon diversity index and richness index of the microbial community of soil under application of biological compound fertilizers for 25 years. Kirchmann et al (2013) found that the application of inorganic and organic fertilizers had no significant effect on the bacterial and fungal Shannon diversity index as compared to the control soil as reported in the 10.…”