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Long-Term Crop Rotation Revealed the Relationship Between Soil Organic Carbon Physical Fraction and Bacterial
Xianghai Meng1, Baicheng Wang1, Xingzhe Zhang1
1Mudanjiang Branch, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang 157000, China.
Microorganisms
|March 27, 2025
Summary
Crop rotation practices significantly impact soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and microbial communities. Maize and soybean rotation increased particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MaOC) at the aggregate scale.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Crop rotation is known to improve soil fertility and health by influencing microbial communities.
- Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics are closely linked to the interaction between soil aggregates and microbes.
- The specific effects of different crop rotations on SOC fractions and bacterial communities at aggregate scales are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of maize monoculture (MM), soybean monoculture (SS), and a maize-soybean rotation (MS) on SOC fractions.
- To analyze the composition of bacterial communities within soil aggregates under different crop rotation systems.
- To understand the relationship between microbial communities and SOC fractions at the aggregate level.
Main Methods:
- A 17-year field experiment comparing MM, SS, and MS treatments.
- Analysis of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, including particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MaOC), at the aggregate scale.
- Characterization of bacterial communities and their co-occurrence networks within macro- and microaggregates.
Main Results:
- The MS treatment significantly increased particulate organic carbon (POC) compared to the SS treatment.
- Higher mineral-associated organic carbon (MaOC) was observed in MS and MM treatments compared to the SS treatment.
- Distinct microbial co-occurrence networks (clusters) were identified in macro- and microaggregates, with specific bacterial taxa (e.g., Vicinamibacteraceae, Actinobacteria, Pyrinomonadaceae) driving SOC fraction turnover.
Conclusions:
- Crop rotation, particularly the MS treatment, influences the distribution of SOC fractions at the aggregate scale.
- Specific bacterial communities within soil aggregates play a crucial role in the turnover and accumulation of different SOC fractions.
- This research enhances understanding of how microbial communities mediate SOC dynamics under various crop rotation regimes.
