Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Isolation and Analysis of Microbial Communities in Soil, Rhizosphere, and Roots in Perennial Grass Experiments
Published on: July 24, 2018
Irrigation has a higher impact on soil bacterial abundance, diversity and composition than nitrogen fertilization
Haoran Li1, Hongguang Wang1, Bin Jia1
1State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, 2596#, Lekai South street, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of irrigation frequency and nitrogen fertilization rate on the abundance, diversity, and composition of soil bacteria in winter wheat. Irrigation, but not nitrogen fertilization, significantly affected the bacterial alpha diversity index. Among the 50 phyla obtained in these treatments, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Firmicutes were the predominant phyla. The LEfSe analysis of different treatments indicated that irrigation had a stronger effect on soil bacteria community composition than nitrogen fertilization. Moreover, the soil pH, moisture, available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) significantly correlated with the relative abundance of dominant bacteria at the phylum, genus, and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) levels. Overall, after three years of irrigation and fertilization treatments, the effect of irrigation on soil bacteria abundance, diversity, and composition of winter wheat was stronger than that of nitrogen fertilization, highlighting the importance of water availability for bacteria communities in semi-arid ecosystems. Inorganic and organic fertilizers should be applied in rotation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
The Soil Ecosystem
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition

