Tillage, not fertilization, dominantly influences ammonia-oxidizing archaea diversity in long-term, continuous maize

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

doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103384

Tillage, not fertilization, dominantly influences ammonia-oxidizing archaea diversity in long-term, continuous maize

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

Plant and Soil Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) catalyze a rate-limiting step in nitrification - ammonia (NH₃) oxidation. There are more AOA than ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in many soil systems, including cropland, and AOA dominate in unfavorable environmental conditions, such as soils with low NH₄-N. The ecological role of the ubiquitously distributed AOA is unclear, as are the factors regulating AOA community dynamics. This study investigated how long-term N fertilization and tillage management influenced the AOA community in cropland. The study site was a long-term (>40 years) field experiment with either no-tillage (NT) or plow tillage (PT) at three N fertilizer rates (0, 168, and 336 kg ha⁻¹) and continuous maize (Zea mays L.). We used PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to assess the archaeal amoA gene as a measure of the changing AOA community. Tillage rather than N fertilizer played the dominant role affecting the AOA community. Fertilizer rate did not significantly influence AOA diversity, but sample season and N fertilization had selection function on AOA composition. In winter, AOA were more diverse in NT than PT. Unique groups were discovered in different treatments, demonstrating selection by tillage, fertilization, season, and/or their interactions. The significant tillage regulation of AOA provides new clues to investigate which environmental factors influence the AOA community and to explore its ecological significance in agricultural land.

Original language	English
Article number	103384
Journal	Applied Soil Ecology
Volume	147
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103384
State	Published - Mar 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.

Funding

The investigation reported in this paper (16-06-056) is in connection with a project 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. This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture , Hatch project 1005478 . Appendix A The investigation reported in this paper (16-06-056) is in connection with a project 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. This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project 1005478.

Funders	Funder number
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky
US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative	1005478
US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
University of Kentucky	Kentucky
University of Kentucky
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

Keywords

Ammonia oxidizing archaea
Autotrophic nitrification
Community structure
PCR-DGGE
Soil management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology
Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Soil Science

Access to Document

10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103384

Cite this

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title = "Tillage, not fertilization, dominantly influences ammonia-oxidizing archaea diversity in long-term, continuous maize",

abstract = "Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) catalyze a rate-limiting step in nitrification - ammonia (NH3) oxidation. There are more AOA than ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in many soil systems, including cropland, and AOA dominate in unfavorable environmental conditions, such as soils with low NH4-N. The ecological role of the ubiquitously distributed AOA is unclear, as are the factors regulating AOA community dynamics. This study investigated how long-term N fertilization and tillage management influenced the AOA community in cropland. The study site was a long-term (>40 years) field experiment with either no-tillage (NT) or plow tillage (PT) at three N fertilizer rates (0, 168, and 336 kg ha−1) and continuous maize (Zea mays L.). We used PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to assess the archaeal amoA gene as a measure of the changing AOA community. Tillage rather than N fertilizer played the dominant role affecting the AOA community. Fertilizer rate did not significantly influence AOA diversity, but sample season and N fertilization had selection function on AOA composition. In winter, AOA were more diverse in NT than PT. Unique groups were discovered in different treatments, demonstrating selection by tillage, fertilization, season, and/or their interactions. The significant tillage regulation of AOA provides new clues to investigate which environmental factors influence the AOA community and to explore its ecological significance in agricultural land.",

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year = "2020",

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doi = "10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103384",

language = "English",

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KW - Community structure

KW - PCR-DGGE

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Tillage, not fertilization, dominantly influences ammonia-oxidizing archaea diversity in long-term, continuous maize

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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