Distinct soil microbial community composition and structure: evidence from soil inside and outside the cattle farm

The contrast between the soils inside and outside the cattle farm may reflect the prolonged manure exposure within the farm, potentially creating distinct properties and microbial structure. However, comparative studies are scarce on the microbial composition and co-occurrence patterns between soils inside and outside the cattle farm. To address this gap, this study combined Illumina MiSeq sequencing with co-occurrence network analysis and soil physicochemical characterization to compare the microbial community structures between the two sites. The soil inside the cattle farm exhibited higher microbial alpha diversity than that outside the farm. Volcano plots revealed significant differences in the relative abundances of microbial taxa between sites. Notably, the relative abundances of Devosia was significantly higher inside the cattle farm, whereas Paenibacillus and Nitrospira were markedly higher outside the cattle farm (|log2FC| ≥ 1.2). The fungal network inside the cattle farm demonstrated higher complexity and stability than outside, with larger nodes and edges (Nodes: 194 vs. 153; Edges: 13231 vs. 8007) and superior topological characteristics. To elucidate the specific manure-induced environmental factors driving these differences, Mantel tests confirmed that soil organic carbon and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen significantly influenced the microbial communities. This study identifies the specific manure-derived drivers of microbial community structure and network stability, providing critical insights for utilizing cattle manure to improve soil microbial ecology and thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural management.