Electrotrophs
play
an important role in biogeochemical cycles, but the effects of long-term
fertilization on electrotrophic communities in paddy soils remain
unclear. Here, we explored the responses of electrotrophic communities
in paddy soil-based microcosms to different long-term fertilization
practices using microbial electrosynthesis systems (MESs), high-throughput
quantitative PCR, and 16s rRNA gene-based Illumina sequencing techniques.
Compared to the case in the unfertilized soil (CK), applications of
only manure (M); only chemical nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium
fertilizers (NPK); and M plus NPK (MNPK) clearly changed the electrotrophic
bacterial community structure. The Streptomyces genus
of the Actinobacteria phylum was the dominant electrotroph in the
CK, M, and MNPK soils. The latter two soils also favored Truepera of Deinococcus–Thermus or Arenimonas and Thioalkalispira of Proteobacteria. Furthermore, Pseudomonas of Proteobacteria and Bacillus of Firmicutes were major electrotrophs in the NPK soil. These electrotrophs
consumed biocathodic currents coupled with nitrate reduction and recovered
18–38% of electrons via dissimilatory nitrate reduction to
ammonium (DNRA). The increased abundances of the nrfA gene for DNRA induced by electrical potential further supported
that the electrotrophs enhanced DNRA for all soils. These expand our
knowledge about the diversity of electrotrophs and their roles in
N cycle in paddy soils and highlight the importance of fertilization
in shaping electrotrophic communities.