Layered Nitrogen Fertilization Enhances Wheat Productivity by Reshaping Rhizosphere Processes via...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Soil Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Layered nitrogen (N) fertilization is a strategy to enhance wheat productivity.
• The underlying rhizosphere mechanisms of layered N fertilization remain largely unelucidated.
• Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing wheat cultivation and soil health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of layered N fertilization on wheat productivity and rhizosphere processes.
• To elucidate the impact of different N fertilization strategies on root architecture, soil nutrients, and microbial communities.
• To identify key microbial and metabolic players involved in enhanced wheat performance under layered N application.

Main Methods:

• A four-year field experiment comparing layered N fertilization (N1-2-1), surface N application (N8), and no N control (NCK).
• Analysis of grain yield, N accumulation, root biomass, and soil nutrient availability.
• Rhizosphere microbiome and metabolome profiling using sequencing and correlation analyses.
• Identification of specific bacterial modules and metabolites linked to wheat performance.

Main Results:

• Layered fertilization significantly increased grain yield, N accumulation, root biomass, and soil nutrient availability compared to surface application.
• It altered rhizosphere microbial communities, reducing richness but enriching a specific *Flavobacterium*-dominated bacterial module.
• This bacterial module was strongly correlated with metabolites like β-thujaplicin and Ingenol mebutate, which in turn were linked to yield and root traits.

Conclusions:

• Layered N fertilization enhances wheat productivity by optimizing root development, nutrient uptake, and soil fertility.
• This approach effectively modulates rhizosphere microbial and metabolic profiles, promoting beneficial bacterial groups and metabolites.
• The findings offer a mechanistic understanding for precision N placement, supporting sustainable wheat production through targeted rhizosphere regulation.