Soil microbial communities following 20 years of fertilization and crop rotation practices in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Background Although fertilization and crop rotation practices are commonly used worldwide in agriculture to maximize crop yields, their long-term effect on the structures of soil microorganisms is still poorly understood. This study investigated the long-term impact of fertilization and crop rotation on soil microbial diversity and the microbial community structure in four different locations with three soil types. Since 1996, manure (MF; 330 kg N/ha), sewage sludge (SF; 330 and SF3x; 990 kg N/ha), and NPK (NPK; 330 kg N/ha) fertilizers were periodically applied to the soils classified as chernozem, luvisol and cambisol, which are among the most abundant or fertile soils used for agricultural purposes in the world. In these soils, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were rotated every three years. Results Soil chemistry, which was significantly associated with location, fertilization, crop rotation, and the interaction of fertilization and location, was the dominant driver of soil microbial communities, both prokaryotic and fungal. A direct effect of long-term crop rotation and fertilization on the structure of their communities was confirmed, although there was no evidence of their influence on microbial diversity. Fungal and bacterial communities responded differently to fertilization treatments; prokaryotic communities were only significantly different from the control soil (CF) in soils treated with MF and SF3x, while fungal communities differed across all treatments. Indicator genera were identified for different treatments. These taxa were either specific for their decomposition activities or fungal plant pathogens. Sequential rotation of the three crops restricted the growth of several of the indicator plant pathogens. Conclusions Long-term fertilization and crop rotation significantly altered microbial community structure in the soil. While fertilization affected soil microorganisms mainly through changes in nutrient profile, crop rotations lead to the attraction and repulsion of specific plant pathogens. Such changes in soil microbial communities need to be considered when planning soil management.

Crop rotation significantly influences the composition of soil, rhizosphere, and root microbiota in canola (Brassica napus L.)

“…Crop rotation was associated with a much larger effect on the fungal community of soil, rhizosphere and root with significant changes in composition observed in all sample types at all sites. Kracmarova et al [ 41 ] also observed a more pronounced effect of long-term crop rotation (potato, winter wheat, and spring barley) on soil fungal communities compared to the bacterial microbiota. Rotations of rice and canola were also determined to result in increased soil microbial diversity, and the keystone taxa identified in these rotations were all fungal genera [ 42 ].…”

Plant types shape soil microbial composition, diversity, function, and co‐occurrence patterns in cultivated land of a karst area

“…For adjusting local growth conditions, vegetation can change the soil environment by secreting bioactive molecules into the rhizosphere and changing soil conditions for soil microbial communities (Hu et al, 2018). However, the changes in the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities due to the growth of different types of plants on the same cultivated land have been investigated (Kracmarova et al, 2022; Wei, Li, et al, 2020; Wei, Ma, et al, 2020), however, their relationships with environmental factors need to be further studied.…”

Distinct prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and networks in two agricultural fields of central Japan with different histories of maize–cabbage rotation

“…Regarding the communities in soils under crop rotation, many studies have indicated distinct β-diversities of soil bacteria and/or fungi between mono- and rotation-cropping 5 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 – 18 , 20 – 22 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 33 or among crop rotations with different crops and rotation sequences, places, and/or periods 5 , 10 , 11 , 15 , 18 – 22 , 24 , 25 , 32 , 33 ; however, the details of soil biota that change with plant growth have not been clarified in a crop-rotation cycle. We showed that the taxonomic variations indicated by β-diversities in the four sample groups were clearly distinguished by crops as well as by fields (Fig.…”