Biodegradable mulch films significantly affected rhizosphere microbial communities and increased peanut yield

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Microbiology
• Soil Science

Background:

• Biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) are increasingly used in agriculture as alternatives to conventional polyethylene (PE) films.
• The ecological impact of BDMs on soil microbial communities, particularly across different soil niches, remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of PE and BDM on bacterial communities in agricultural soil biofilms, bulk soil, and rhizosphere soil.
• To investigate how different mulch types influence microbial diversity, abundance, and network structure in various soil ecological niches.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of bacterial communities from biofilms, bulk soil, and rhizosphere soil under PE and BDM treatments in peanut fields.
• Statistical assessment of the influence of plastic film type on bacterial community structure and diversity.

Main Results:

• Plastic film type significantly altered bacterial communities across all ecological niches (P < 0.001).
• BDMs notably increased bacterial diversity and abundance in the rhizosphere soil.
• Rhizosphere bacterial communities showed the most significant response, with enrichment of Acidobacteria and Pseudomonas under BDM treatment.
• BDMs enhanced rhizosphere soil bacterial network complexity and stability, with Pseudoxanthomonas and Glutamicibacter identified as biomarkers for PE and BDM biofilms, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Biodegradable mulch films substantially alter soil microbial communities, particularly enhancing beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere.
• The observed microbial shifts under BDMs may contribute to increased agricultural yields.
• Understanding these microbial dynamics is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices and evaluating the ecological implications of mulch film choices.