Nitrite oxidizing bacteria, Nitrobacter and Nitrospira, are differently influenced by season, fertilizer, and tillage in long-term maize culture

S. Liu, M. S. Coyne, J. H. Grove, M. D. Flythe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Nitrite (NO2) oxidation is the second step in nitrification, following ammonia (NH3) oxidation, and catalyzed by nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Their activity is critical in preventing toxic accumulation of NO2. The two major NOB genera in soil are Nitrobacter and Nitrospira. This study investigated how N fertilization and tillage management influenced these two NOB communities in long-term (>40 years) maize (Zea mays L.) cropping. To evaluate NOB community changes we used PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to analyze Nitrobacter and Nitrospira NO2 oxidoreductase genes (nxr). Season, fertilizer rate, and tillage all influenced Nitrobacter and Nitrospira communities, but differentially for the two genera. Nitrobacter was more diverse in summer, whereas Nitrospira was more diverse in winter. Nitrobacter was more diverse in N-fertilized samples, whereas Nitrospira diversity decreased with increasing fertilizer rate in winter but not summer. Nitrobacter diversity was not significantly influenced by tillage, whereas no-tillage samples had more diverse Nitrospira, compared to plow tillage samples. In addition to providing evidence for better understanding the relationship between soil management and NOB communities, this study also helped to suggest linkages between ammonia oxidizing bacteria and Nitrobacter and between ammonia oxidizing archaea and Nitrospira that may facilitate future studies concerning ammonia-oxidizing nitrifiers and NOB.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104530
JournalApplied Soil Ecology
Volume177
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The investigation reported in this paper is in connection with a project (1024123) of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. Mention of trade names is for information only and does not imply endorsement by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. S. Liu was assisted by research and fellowship support from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and a College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment Research Activities Award (University of Kentucky). The technical supports of Ann Freytag and Gloria Gellin are greatly appreciated.

Funding Information:
The investigation reported in this paper is in connection with a project (1024123) of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. Mention of trade names is for information only and does not imply endorsement by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. S. Liu was assisted by research and fellowship support from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and a College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment Research Activities Award ( University of Kentucky ). The technical supports of Ann Freytag and Gloria Gellin are greatly appreciated.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Community analysis
  • DGGE
  • Nitrification
  • Nitrite oxidation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology
  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Soil Science

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