Metagenomic insights into the alteration of soil N-cycling-related microbiome and functions under long-term conversion of cropland to Miscanthus |
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Authors: | Chunqiao Zhao Yuesen Yue Qiang Guo Juying Wu Jinku Song Qinghai Wang Cui Li Yang Hu Sisi Wang Ning Yuan Zhengang Wang Ranran Fan Xincun Hou Xifeng Fan |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Grassland, Flowers and Ecology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China;2. Huailai Bureau of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Zhangjiakou, China;3. China Environmental Protection Foundation, Beijing, China |
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Abstract: | Miscanthus spp. show excellent application prospects due to its bioenergy potential and multiple ecological services. Annual N export with biomass harvest from Miscanthus, even without fertilizer supplement, do not reduce soil N levels. The question arises regarding how Miscanthus can maintain stable soil N levels. Metagenomic strategies were used to reveal soil N-cycling-related microbiome and their functional contributions to processes of soil N-cycling based on the comparison among the bare land, cropland, 10-year Miscanthus × giganteus, and 15-year Miscanthus sacchariflorus fields. The results showed that, after long-term cropland-to-Miscanthus conversion (LCMC), 16 of 21 bacterial phyla and all the archaeal phyla exhibited significant changes. Soil microbial denitrification and nitrification functions were significantly weakened, and N fixation (NF) was significantly enhanced. The biosynthesis of amino acids, especially alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, in soil N-cycling-related microbiome was dramatically promoted. The genus Anaeromyxobacter contributed largely to the NF process after LCMC. Variations in the soil available potassium, available N, organic C, and total N contents drove a functional shift of soil microbiome from cropland to Miscanthus pattern. We conclude that Miscanthus can recruit Anaeromyxobacter communities to enhance NF benefiting its biomass sustainability and soil N balance. |
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Keywords: | cropland metagenomic analysis N-cycling N fixation perennial energy crops soil properties |
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