Changes in the Microbial Community in Maize (Zea mays L.) Root Spatial Structure Following Short-Term Nitrogen...

Area of Science:

• Soil microbiology
• Plant-microbe interactions
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Crop root microbiomes are crucial for nutrient uptake, growth, and disease resistance.
• Limited research exists on how nitrogen (N) application rates affect microbial communities within different maize root zones.
• Understanding these interactions is key to optimizing agricultural sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of varying nitrogen (N) application rates on microbial community composition within maize's bulk soil, rhizoplane, and endosphere.
• To compare the sensitivity of fungal and bacterial communities to N fertilization across different root-associated compartments.
• To identify key microbial groups and their relationship with soil properties and crop yield.

Main Methods:

• Experiment with three N application rates (0, 180, 360 kg N ha⁻¹) on maize.
• Analysis of microbial community composition in bulk soil, rhizoplane, and endosphere.
• Assessment of microbial diversity, sensitivity to N fertilizer, and identification of keystone species.

Main Results:

• Microbial diversity and composition varied significantly across soil compartments (bulk soil, rhizoplane, endosphere).
• Fungal communities were more sensitive to N application rates than bacterial communities, particularly in bulk soil and rhizoplane.
• The N180 treatment yielded the highest fresh yield (64.5 kg·ha⁻¹) and biomass (24.3 kg·ha⁻¹), showing strong microbial community correlations.

Conclusions:

• Fungal community composition in the maize root zone is more susceptible to N fertilization rates than bacterial communities.
• N fertilization influences microflora distribution by altering soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities.
• Optimizing N application (e.g., N180) can enhance maize yield and biomass through beneficial microbial community structures.