Impact of intercropping on the coupling between soil microbial community structure, activity, and nutrient-use efficiencies

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6412
• Publication Date: 2019-02-08T08:24:13Z
• Authors: Tengxiang Lian; Yinghui Mu; Jian Jin; Qibin Ma; Yanbo Cheng; Zhandong Cai; Hai Nian
• Keywords: Intercropping; Soil carbon; Soil respiration

Sugarcane-soybean intercropping has been widely used to control disease and improve nutrition in the field. However, response of soil microbial community diversity structure is not well understood. Since corresponds quality plant health, a pot experiment was conducted with sugarcane intercropped soybean. Rhizosphere collected 40 days after sowing, MiSeq sequencing utilized analyze composition. Soil columns were assess influence on activity (soil respiration carbon-use efficiency: nitrogen-use efficiency ratio). PICRUSt FUNGuild analysis predict functional profiling. Our results showed that decreased pH by approximately 8.9% enhanced organic carbon, dissolved available nitrogen (N) 5.5%, 13.4%, 10.0%, respectively. These changes physicochemical properties corresponded increased shifts communities. Microbial correlated significantly ( p < 0.05) rates nutrient use efficiency. Furthermore, influenced functions, such as carbon fixation pathways prokaryotes, citrate cycle (TCA cycle) bacteria wood saprotrophs fungi. overrepresented functions might accelerate conversion phytopathogens soil.