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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347259
Title: Nitrogen and crop rotation as drivers of the maize-associated soil microbiome

Author
item STENGEL, ASHLEY - University Of Nebraska
item RAMIREZ II, SALVADOR - University Of Nebraska
item JESKE, ELIZABETH - University Of Nebraska
item Jin, Virginia
item CUI, JUAN - University Of Nebraska
item EVERHART, SYDNEY - University Of Nebraska
item HERR, JOSHUA - University Of Nebraska
item DRIJBER, RHAE - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Microbes inhabit an exciting and interesting array of environments, exhibiting striking amounts of diversity and variation. The soil microbiome is one of the most dynamic and diverse microbial environments, where bacteria, fungi, and plant roots all interact to shape food networks and drive ecosystem functioning. Core ecological processes, such as habitat characteristics, nutrient availability, and competition for resources, drive community structure and reflect a suite of interactions between above-ground and below-ground parts. Exploring the often-unseen world of the soil, this talk will showcase the microbial diversity of a maize agroecosystem. Our study addresses the role of nitrogen fertilization and crop rotation regimes at a long-term experimental field site in Nebraska. We hypothesize that variation in the soil carbon and nitrogen pools found under treatment conditions will drive differences in microbial community structure. Crop inputs from the year before (corn or soybean) define the quality and quantity of these nutrient pools and influence microbes to invest in nutrient-acquisition strategies (e.g. specialization or diversification of pathways) that enable competitive growth in nutrient-rich vs. nutrient-stressed environments. Our results indicate phylum level differences in the maize-associated soil microbiome related to soil physical and chemical properties, such as organic matter content, as well as the fungal composition in the soil. Additionally, in soils where corn is grown continuously nitrogen is a more important contributor to community structure. Understanding the maize-associated soil microbiome under variable and diverse nutrient conditions is important for ascertaining how microbial resiliency and redundancy may promote healthy soils and hardy crops.