Temporal dynamics of abundance and composition of nitrogen-fixing communities across agricultural soils.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the fact that the fixation of nitrogen is one of the most significant nutrient processes in the terrestrial ecosystem, a thorough study of the spatial and temporal patterns in the abundance and distribution of N-fixing communities has been missing so far.

Methodology/principal findings

In order to understand the dynamics of diazotrophic communities and their resilience to external changes, we quantified the abundance and characterized the bacterial community structures based on the nifH gene, using real-time PCR, PCR-DGGE and 454-pyrosequencing, across four representative Dutch soils during one growing season. In general, higher nifH gene copy numbers were observed in soils with higher pH than in those with lower pH, but lower numbers were related to incre

SUBMITTER: Pereira E Silva MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3772945 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature