Influence of gap size and soil properties on microbial biomass in a subtropical humid forest of north-east India

We examined the effects of treefall gap size and soil properties on microbial biomass dynamics in an undisturbed mature-phase humid subtropical broadleaved forest in north-east India. Canopy gaps had low soil moisture and low microbial biomass suggesting that belowground dynamics accompanied changes in light resources after canopy opening. High rainfall in the region causes excessive erosion/leaching of top soil and eventually soil fertility declines in treefall gaps compared to understorey. Soil microbial population was less during periods when temperature and moisture conditions are low, while it peaked during rainy season when the litter decomposition rate is at its peak on the forest floor. Greater demand for nutrients by plants during rainy season (the peak vegetative growth period) limited the availability of nutrients to soil microbes and, therefore, low microbial C, N and P. Weak correlations were also obtained for the relationships between microbial C, N and P and soil physico–chemical properties. Gap size did influence the microbial nutrients and their contribution to soil organic carbon, total Kjeldhal nitrogen and available-P. Contribution of microbial C to soil organic carbon, microbial N to total nitrogen were similar in both treefall gaps and understorey plots, while the contribution of microbial P to soil available-P was lower in gap compared to the understorey. These results indicate that any fluctuation in microbial biomass related nutrient cycling processes in conjunction with the associated microclimate variation may affect the pattern of regeneration of tree seedlings in the gaps and hence be related with their size. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of warming and drought on grassland microbial communities

The soil microbiome is responsible for mediating key ecological processes; however, little is known about its sensitivity to climate change. Observed increases in global temperatures and alteration to rainfall patterns, due to anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases, will likely have a strong influence on soil microbial communities and ultimately the ecosystem services they provide. Therefore, it is vital to understand how soil microbial communities will respond to future climate change scenarios. To this end, we surveyed the abundance, diversity and structure of microbial communities over a 2-year period from a long-term in situ warming experiment that experienced a moderate natural drought. We found the warming treatment and soil water budgets strongly influence bacterial population size and diversity. In normal precipitation years, the warming treatment significantly increased microbial population size 40–150% but decreased diversity and significantly changed the composition of the community when compared with the unwarmed controls. However during drought conditions, the warming treatment significantly reduced soil moisture thereby creating unfavorable growth conditions that led to a 50–80% reduction in the microbial population size when compared with the control. Warmed plots also saw an increase in species richness, diversity and evenness; however, community composition was unaffected suggesting that few phylotypes may be active under these stressful conditions. Our results indicate that under warmed conditions, ecosystem water budget regulates the abundance and diversity of microbial populations and that rainfall timing is critical at the onset of drought for sustaining microbial populations.     

生态化学计量学：复杂生命系统奥秘的探索

 20世纪以来,生物科学的发展异军突起,成为发展最快的学科,不仅学科分类逐渐细化,而且研究领域也逐渐深入,然而,这种分化和深入也可能会掩盖生物的一些最普遍特征。地球上的生物是否具有统一的、更本质的特征？能否把不同生物学领域和不同层次的知识联系起来？随着对这些问题的不断探索,一门新兴的学科——生态化学计量学,在最近20年悄然兴起。生态化学计量学结合了生物学、化学和物理学等基本原理,是研究生物系统能量平衡和多重化学元素（主要是C、N、P）平衡的科学。这一研究领域使得生物学科不同层次（分子、细胞、有机体、种群、生态系统和全球尺度）的研究理论能够有机地统一起来。目前,生态化学计量学已经广泛应用于种群动态、生物体营养动态、微生物营养、寄主_病原关系、生物共生关系、消费者驱动的养分循环、限制性元素的判断、生态系统比较分析和森林演替与衰退及全球C、N、P生物地球化学循环等研究中,并取得了许多研究成果。该文概述了生态化学计量的概念、历史起源和基本理论,重点介绍了生态化学计量学理论在消费者驱动的养分循环、限制性养分元素判别以及全球C、N、P循环等方面的应用进展,并对生态化学计量学未来的研究方向进行了展望,期望引起国内同行的重视并有助于推动我国在此领域开展相关研究。     

生物质炭与氮肥配施对红壤线虫群落的影响

利用生物质炭改良土壤近年来受到关注,但仍缺乏对土壤动物群落变化的认识.基于野外定位试验,研究了不同用量的生物质炭(0、10、20、30、40 t·hm^-2)与氮肥(60、90、120 kg N·hm^-2)配施对干旱期和湿润期红壤理化性质和线虫群落的影响.结果表明： 施用生物质炭在干旱期和湿润期均显著影响土壤含水量和pH.随生物质炭施用量的增加,土壤含水量先增加后降低,而土壤pH保持增加的趋势.土壤微生物生物量碳氮、碳氮比及基础呼吸均受到生物质炭和氮肥的显著影响,且低量生物质炭对微生物生物量碳氮、碳氮比及基础呼吸有刺激作用,而高量生物质炭则对其有抑制作用.如生物质炭施用量低于30 t·hm^-2时,在干旱期和湿润期均促进土壤微生物活性.此外,生物质炭的效果也依赖于不同采样时期.如在施用量高于30 t·hm^-2时,微生物生物量碳在干旱期显著高于对照,在湿润期与对照无显著差异;而微生物生物量氮则呈相反趋势.可溶性有机物和矿质氮在干旱期受到生物质炭和氮肥的显著影响,但是在湿润期仅受到氮肥的影响.生物质炭、氮肥及二者的交互作用在干旱期和湿润期均显著影响线虫数量及营养类群的结构.高量生物质炭和氮肥配施能够提高土壤线虫的数量.值得注意的是,生物质炭显著提高了干旱期食真菌线虫的比例,尤其在干旱期趋势明显,暗示在生物质炭作用下土壤食物网结构趋向于以真菌主导的能流通道.总之,生物质炭对红壤的效果呈现出复杂的影响趋势,不仅依赖于生物质炭的施用量及与氮肥的交互作用,而且与红壤的采样时期有关,表明今后生物质炭的研究应结合多种生态因子.     

Functional composition of plant communities determines the spatial and temporal stability of soil microbial properties in a long‐term plant diversity experiment

Stable provisioning of ecosystem functions and services is crucial for human well‐being in a changing world. Two essential ecological components driving vital ecosystem functions in terrestrial ecosystems are plant diversity and soil microorganisms. In this study, we tracked soil microbial basal respiration and biomass over a time period of 12 years in a grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment) and examined the role of plant diversity and plant functional group composition for the spatial and temporal stability of soil microbial properties (basal respiration and biomass) in bulk‐soil. Spatial and temporal stability were calculated as the inverse coefficient of variation (CV^?1) of soil microbial respiration and biomass measured from soil samples taken over space and time, respectively. We found that 1) plant species richness consistently increased soil microbial properties after a time lag of four years since the establishment of the experimental plots, 2) plant species richness had minor effects on the spatial stability of soil microbial properties, whereas 3) the functional composition of plant communities significantly affected spatial stability of soil microbial properties, with legumes and tall herbs reducing both the spatial stability of microbial respiration and biomass, while grasses increased the latter, and 4) the effect of plant diversity on temporal stability of soil microbial properties turned from being negative to neutral, suggesting that the recovery of soil microbial communities from former arable land‐use takes more than a decade. Our results highlight the importance of plant functional group composition for the spatial and temporal stability of soil microbial properties, and hence for microbially‐driven ecosystem processes, such as decomposition and element cycling, in temperate semi‐natural grassland.     

贵州省典型植烟生态区域根际土壤微生物群落多样性

土壤微生物是土壤的重要组成部分,它对土壤肥力的形成和植物营养的转化起着积极的作用。采用16S V4区高通量测序等方法对贵州省不同生态区域典型植烟土壤根际微生物群落进行分析研究,从根际土壤微生物群落特征上诠释不同生态区域典型土壤根际微生物群落的信息差异。结果表明:贵州省不同生态区域弱酸和酸性土壤占70.06%,有机碳平均2.24%,有机碳含量总体偏高,全氮与有机碳含量具有一定相关性;根际土壤微生物的OTUs数量差异明显,呈现总体是西部高于东部,南部高于北部;微生物属水平物种丰度差异显示,土壤类型对微生物群落丰度影响显著,而在土壤功能微生物上黔北区域的变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)两个门的微生物相对丰度最高,而在黔中中部区域变形菌门的丰度显著高于放线菌门的丰度。黔西南和黔中中部区域土壤微生物属水平优势种群显著高于其他地区,种群平衡度不高,具有土传病害发生的潜在危险。通过贵州省不同生态区域土壤微生物根际微生物信息分析与研究,为后续土壤生物修复奠定了良好的研究基础。     

萘对川西亚高山森林土壤微生物量、丰度和磷脂脂肪酸的影响

萘作为土壤动物化学抑制剂已在土壤动物生态功能的研究中广泛使用,但其非目标效应使其应用仍存在很大的不确定性。为了解在亚高山森林土壤应用萘抑制土壤动物群落的非目标效应,以川西亚高山森林土壤为研究对象,采用微缩实验研究了土壤微生物生物量、丰度和磷脂脂肪酸对萘胁迫的短期响应。结果表明,萘处理和对照的土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、真菌丰度以及细菌、真菌、革兰氏阳性菌(G~+)和革兰氏阴性菌(G~-)PLFAs含量在整个培养期间表现为降低的变化趋势,二者的土壤微生物生物量碳和G~+PLFAs含量以培养52d最低,细菌、真菌和G~-PLFAs含量以培养的45d最低。萘处理和对照的微生物生物量氮(MBN)含量表现出先升高后降低的动态,微生物生物量碳氮比(MBC/MBN)则表现为相反趋势。对照的真菌/细菌PLFAs比值呈现先升高后降低的动态,以培养的17d最高,但萘处理的真菌/细菌PLFAs比值无明显变化规律;萘处理的G~+/G~-PLFAs比值表现为降低的变化趋势,对照的G~+/G~-PLFAs比值表现为先降低后升高的趋势。萘处理仅显著影响了G~+/G~-PLFAs比值,但萘处理和采样时间的交互作用显著影响MBC/MBN、细菌丰度、真菌/细菌丰度比以及细菌、真菌的PLFAs含量、真菌/细菌PLFAs比值、G~+/G~-PLFAs比值。萘作为土壤动物抑制剂对川西亚高山森林土壤微生物群落的非目标效应具有时间变异性。     

玉米生长期间土壤微生物量与土壤酶变化及其相关性研究

研究了玉米生长期间土壤微生物量碳、氮与土壤过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶活性变化及其相关性．结果表明，玉米生长前期和中期，土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性迅速上升，并逐渐达到最大值；玉米生长后期，土壤微生物量碳、氮、酶活性下降至某一值后并逐渐趋于平稳．几种处理相比较，以秸秆＋尿素处理的土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性为最大．除玉米生长后期，土壤微生物量碳、氮与碱解氮、活性腐殖质、土壤ｐＨ不相关外，土壤微生物量碳、氮与土壤过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶活性及速效养分在玉米生长期间均相关或极相关     

Bacterial and fungal taxon changes in soil microbial community composition induced by short-term biochar amendment in red oxidized loam soil

To take full advantage of biochar as a soil amendment, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar addition on soil bacterial and fungal diversity and community composition. Incubation experiments with a forest soil (a red oxidized loam soil) with and without biochar amendment were conducted for 96 days. The culture-independent molecular method was utilized to analyze soil bacterial and fungal species after the incubation experiments. Results showed that bacteria and fungi responded differently to the biochar addition during the short-term soil incubation. Twenty four and 18 bacterial genara were observed in the biochar amended and unamended soils, respectively, whereas 11 and 8 fungal genera were observed in the biochar amended and unamended soils, respectively. Microbial taxa analysis indicated that the biochar amendment resulted in significant shifts in both bacterial and fungal taxa during the incubation period. The shift for bacteria occurred at the genus and phylum levels, while for fungi only at the genus level. Specific taxa, such as Actinobacteria of bacteria and Trichoderma and Paecilomyces of fungi, were enriched in the biochar amended soil. The results reveal a pronounced impact of biochar on soil microbial community composition and an enrichment of key bacterial and fungal taxa in the soil during the short time period.     

Microbial communities show parallels at sites with distinct litter and soil characteristics

Plant and microbial community composition in connection with soil chemistry determines soil nutrient cycling. The study aimed at demonstrating links between plant and microbial communities and soil chemistry occurring among and within four sites: two pine forests with contrasting soil pH and two grasslands of dissimilar soil chemistry and vegetation. Soil was characterized by C and N content, particle size, and profiles of low-molecular-weight compounds determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of soil extracts. Bacterial and actinobacterial community composition was assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and cloning followed by sequencing. Abundances of bacteria, fungi, and actinobacteria were determined by quantitative PCR. In addition, a pool of secondary metabolites was estimated by erm resistance genes coding for rRNA methyltransferases. The sites were characterized by a stable proportion of C/N within each site, while on a larger scale, the grasslands had a significantly lower C/N ratio than the forests. A Spearman's test showed that soil pH was correlated with bacterial community composition not only among sites but also within each site. Bacterial, actinobacterial, and fungal abundances were related to carbon sources while T-RFLP-assessed microbial community composition was correlated with the chemical environment represented by HPLC profiles. Actinobacteria community composition was the only studied microbial characteristic correlated to all measured factors. It was concluded that the microbial communities of our sites were influenced primarily not only by soil abiotic characteristics but also by dominant litter quality, particularly, by percentage of recalcitrant compounds.     

福建安溪县乡镇土地生态系统服务价值的演变机制

为了厘清土地利用变化与生态系统服务之间的互作关系,本研究采用生物量因子和社会经济因子调整系数修正传统生态系统服务价值评估模型,对1999—2019年安溪县所属24个乡镇生态系统服务价值(ESV)进行评估,探究其对土地利用变化的生态响应。结果表明: 研究期间,安溪县24个乡镇ESV呈整建制递减,减幅为0.004～0.295亿元;林地和耕地对ESV的贡献率最大,其次为草地和水域,其余地类对ESV的贡献为负值;将其他地类转变为林地可提高ESV,而转变为园地面积(主要是茶园面积)则导致ESV降低。采用化肥单一化宿根栽培管理茶园导致ESV降低,而茶园生态栽培能有效提高茶园土壤微生物多样性,改善土壤肥力,提高ESV。     

贺兰山不同林分凋落物微生物群落特征与影响因素

贺兰山是我国重要生态屏障,贺兰山生态森林生态系统保护受到极大关注,森林凋落物及土壤微生物对全球气候变化研究具有重要意义。目前,贺兰山不同林分的凋落物分解过程中微生物群落结构特征差异、不同凋落物化学组成对微生物群落结构的影响尚不清楚。以贺兰山具有代表性的3种林分（油松林、青海云杉林以及油松-山杨混交林）凋落物为研究对象,开展凋落物化学组成、微生物群落组成及多样性特征研究,揭示不同林分凋落物的优势微生物群落特征和影响因子。结果表明,3种林分凋落物的细菌和真菌在多个多样性指数之间差异性均不显著,但是在多样性指数中真菌PD whole tree指数显著大于细菌,真菌Shannon指数与Ghao1指数却显著小于细菌。在门水平上不同林分凋落物的微生物优势菌类无显著差异,但在属水平上差异显著,而且细菌差异小于真菌,在各个分类水平上,凋落物细菌和真菌群落组成均表现为油松-山杨混交林＜青海云杉林＜青海云杉林,凋落物微生物多样性在青海云杉林中最为丰富。细菌不同节点间连接线负相关数量略大于正相关,真菌则相反。油松林凋落物与其它林分凋落物相比,微生物群落之间联系更加紧密。油松林凋落物OC含量最大、青海云杉林凋落物的TK含量最大、油松-山杨混交林的TN含量最大,且在3种林分中显著差异。相关性分析表明OC、TN、TP、TK是影响凋落物细菌和真菌群落组成及多样性的主要因素,冗余分析表明不同林分凋落物的微生物多样性指数受养分影响,凋落物OC、TN、TP、TK是影响微生物群落组成和多样性的重要因素,其中OC与微生物群落多样性相关性最显著,是影响凋落物细菌和真菌群落组成和多样性最主要的因子。     

矿区高硫煤覆盖对土壤细菌群落组成和多样性的影响

【背景】土壤微生物生态研究对于矿区污染生态影响调查和矿区生态恢复都具有非常重要的意义,高硫煤覆盖对其下方土壤微生物群落的影响目前尚不清楚。【目的】探究煤矿区长期高硫煤覆盖对其下方土壤细菌群落组成和多样性产生的影响。【方法】从高硫煤矿附近煤场采集3种类型土壤样品(高硫煤覆盖层、高硫煤下方土壤、对照土壤),通过测定土壤理化性质和运用高通量测序技术研究高硫煤覆盖对土壤性质和细菌群落产生的影响。【结果】与对照土壤相比,高硫煤覆盖使其下方土壤pH值降低,硫酸盐、有机质、有效氮、有效磷含量升高。高硫煤覆盖使其下方土壤中细菌的多样性指数降低,细菌群落组成发生了较大改变。在属水平上,与对照土壤相比,高硫煤下方土壤中Bacillus的相对丰度较高;Acidiphilium与Sulfobacillus在3个样本组中的相对丰度呈现为高硫煤覆盖层>高硫煤下方土壤>对照土壤,硫氧化菌在高硫煤中的优势地位及其对下方土壤的影响由此可以得到证实。共现性网络分析表明,Acidiphilium和Sulfobacillus在高硫煤覆盖区域的土壤细菌群落中占有重要地位,对其他细菌类群影响非常大。【结论】高硫煤覆盖及硫氧化菌的优势存在,对高硫煤下方土壤的理化性质及细菌群落产生明显影响。研究结果有助于增进对矿区土壤微生物生态的认识,为高硫煤矿区生态恢复治理提供微生物学理论基础。     

Mineral Type Structures Soil Microbial Communities

Soil microorganisms living in close contact with minerals play key roles in the biogeochemical cycling of elements, soil formation, and plant nutrition. Yet, the composition of microbial communities inhabiting the mineralosphere (i.e., the soil surrounding minerals) is poorly understood. Here, we explored the composition of soil microbial communities associated with different types of minerals in various soil horizons. To this effect, a field experiment was set up in which mineral specimens of apatite, biotite, and oligoclase were buried in the organic, eluvial, and upper illuvial horizons of a podzol soil. After an incubation period of two years, the soil attached to the mineral surfaces was collected, and microbial communities were analyzed by means of Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S (prokaryotic) and 18S (eukaryotic) ribosomal RNA genes. We found that both composition and diversity of bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities varied across the different mineral surfaces, and that mineral type had a greater influence on structuring microbial assemblages than soil horizon. Thus, our findings emphasize the importance of mineral surfaces as ecological niches in soils.     

Long‐term balanced fertilization increases the soil microbial functional diversity in a phosphorus‐limited paddy soil

The influence of long‐term chemical fertilization on soil microbial communities has been one of the frontier topics of agricultural and environmental sciences and is critical for linking soil microbial flora with soil functions. In this study, 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing and a functional gene array, geochip 4.0, were used to investigate the shifts in microbial composition and functional gene structure in paddy soils with different fertilization treatments over a 22‐year period. These included a control without fertilizers; chemical nitrogen fertilizer (N); N and phosphate (NP); N and potassium (NK); and N, P and K (NPK). Based on 16S rRNA gene data, both species evenness and key genera were affected by P fertilization. Functional gene array‐based analysis revealed that long‐term fertilization significantly changed the overall microbial functional structures. Chemical fertilization significantly increased the diversity and abundance of most genes involved in C, N, P and S cycling, especially for the treatments NK and NPK. Significant correlations were found among functional gene structure and abundance, related soil enzymatic activities and rice yield, suggesting that a fertilizer‐induced shift in the microbial community may accelerate the nutrient turnover in soil, which in turn influenced rice growth. The effect of N fertilization on soil microbial functional genes was mitigated by the addition of P fertilizer in this P‐limited paddy soil, suggesting that balanced chemical fertilization is beneficial to the soil microbial community and its functions.     

Seasonal Changes in the Rhizosphere Microbial Communities Associated with Field-Grown Genetically Modified Canola (Brassica napus)

The introduction of transgenic plants into agricultural ecosystems has raised the question of the ecological impact of these plants on nontarget organisms, such as soil bacteria. Although differences in both the genetic structure and the metabolic function of the microbial communities associated with some transgenic plant lines have been established, it remains to be seen whether these differences have an ecological impact on the soil microbial communities. We conducted a 2-year, multiple-site field study in which rhizosphere samples associated with a transgenic canola variety and a conventional canola variety were sampled at six times throughout the growing season. The objectives of this study were to identify differences between the rhizosphere microbial community associated with the transgenic plants and the rhizosphere microbial community associated with the conventional canola plants and to determine whether the differences were permanent or depended on the presence of the plant. Community-level physiological profiles, fatty acid methyl ester profiles, and terminal amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis profiles of rhizosphere microbial communities were compared to the profiles of the microbial community associated with an unplanted, fallow field plot. Principal-component analysis showed that there was variation in the microbial community associated with both canola variety and growth season. Importantly, while differences between the microbial communities associated with the transgenic plant variety were observed at several times throughout the growing season, all analyses indicated that when the microbial communities were assessed after winter, there were no differences between microbial communities from field plots that contained harvested transgenic canola plants and microbial communities from field plots that did not contain plants during the field season. Hence, the changes in the microbial community structure associated with genetically modified plants were temporary and did not persist into the next field season.     

Spatial heterogeneity of eukaryotic microbial communities in an unstudied geothermal diatomaceous biological soil crust: Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA

Knowledge of microbial communities and their inherent heterogeneity has dramatically increased with the widespread use of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and we are learning more about the ecological processes that structure microbial communities across a wide range of environments, as well as the relative scales of importance for describing bacterial communities in natural systems. Little work has been carried out to assess fine-scale eukaryotic microbial heterogeneity in soils. Here, we present findings from a bar-coded 18S rRNA survey of the eukaryotic microbial communities in a previously unstudied geothermal diatomaceous biological soil crust in Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA, in which we explicitly compare microbial community heterogeneity at the particle scale within soil cores. Multivariate analysis of community composition showed that while subsamples from within the same soil core clustered together, community dissimilarity between particles in the same core was high. This study describes a novel soil microbial environment and also adds to our growing understanding of microbial heterogeneity and the scales relevant to the study of soil microbial communities.     

Seasonal changes in the rhizosphere microbial communities associated with field-grown genetically modified canola (Brassica napus)

The introduction of transgenic plants into agricultural ecosystems has raised the question of the ecological impact of these plants on nontarget organisms, such as soil bacteria. Although differences in both the genetic structure and the metabolic function of the microbial communities associated with some transgenic plant lines have been established, it remains to be seen whether these differences have an ecological impact on the soil microbial communities. We conducted a 2-year, multiple-site field study in which rhizosphere samples associated with a transgenic canola variety and a conventional canola variety were sampled at six times throughout the growing season. The objectives of this study were to identify differences between the rhizosphere microbial community associated with the transgenic plants and the rhizosphere microbial community associated with the conventional canola plants and to determine whether the differences were permanent or depended on the presence of the plant. Community-level physiological profiles, fatty acid methyl ester profiles, and terminal amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis profiles of rhizosphere microbial communities were compared to the profiles of the microbial community associated with an unplanted, fallow field plot. Principal-component analysis showed that there was variation in the microbial community associated with both canola variety and growth season. Importantly, while differences between the microbial communities associated with the transgenic plant variety were observed at several times throughout the growing season, all analyses indicated that when the microbial communities were assessed after winter, there were no differences between microbial communities from field plots that contained harvested transgenic canola plants and microbial communities from field plots that did not contain plants during the field season. Hence, the changes in the microbial community structure associated with genetically modified plants were temporary and did not persist into the next field season.     

Plant community and soil conditions individually affect soil microbial community assembly in experimental mesocosms

Soils harbor large, diverse microbial communities critical for local and global ecosystem functioning that are controlled by multiple and poorly understood processes. In particular, while there is observational evidence of relationships between both biotic and abiotic conditions and microbial composition and diversity, there have been few experimental tests to determine the relative importance of these two sets of factors at local scales. Here, we report the results of a fully factorial experiment manipulating soil conditions and plant cover on old‐field mesocosms across a latitudinal gradient. The largest contributor to beta diversity was site‐to‐site variation, but, having corrected for that, we observed significant effects of both plant and soil treatments on microbial composition. Separate phyla were associated with each treatment type, and no interactions between soil and plant treatment were observed. Individual soil characteristics and biotic parameters were also associated with overall beta‐diversity patterns and phyla abundance. In contrast, soil microbial diversity was only associated with site and not experimental treatment. Overall, plant community treatment explained more variation than soil treatment, a result not previously appreciated because it is difficult to dissociate plant community composition and soil conditions in observational studies across gradients. This work highlights the need for more nuanced, multifactorial experiments in microbial ecology and in particular indicates a greater focus on relationships between plant composition and microbial composition during community assembly.