Metagenomic and network analyses reveal key players in nitrification in upland agricultural soils

Nitrification, a key step in soil nitrogen cycling, is a biologically mediated process crucial to the ecological environment. However, how nitrifiers drive nitrification under different soil properties and climatic factors at large spatial scales is poorly understood. Here, using metagenomic sequencing and network-based approaches, we identified key nitrifying species of upland agricultural soils in northern China, which spans a wide range of climates and geographic distances. We found that potential nitrification rates (PNRs) varied in different soils and were positively correlated with soil pH (5.42-8.46) and mean annual temperature (MAT) and negatively correlated with the C/N ratio. Network analysis revealed that one module (module 3) was significantly correlated with PNR. In this module, 16 dominant nodes were associated with AOB Nitrosomonas and most nodes were significantly correlated with environmental factors, suggesting that abiotic conditions are important for determining the assembly of these key nitrifiers. Our study advanced the understanding of the key nitrifying populations and their environmental drivers in upland agricultural soil across different soil and climate types.