Comparing DNA, RNA and protein levels for measuring microbial dynamics in soil microcosms amended with nitrogen fertilizer.

ABSTRACT: To what extent multi-omic techniques could reflect in situ microbial process rates remains unclear, especially for highly diverse habitats like soils. Here, we performed microcosm incubations using sandy soil from an agricultural site in Midwest USA. Microcosms amended with isotopically labeled ammonium and urea to simulate a fertilization event showed nitrification (up to 4.1 ± 0.87 µg N-NO₃^- g^-1 dry soil d^-1) and accumulation of N₂O after 192 hours of incubation. Nitrification activity (NH₄⁺ → NH₂OH → NO → NO₂^- → NO₃^-) was accompanied by a 6-fold increase in relative expression of the 16S rRNA gene (RNA/DNA) between 10 and 192 hours of incubation for ammonia

SUBMITTER: Orellana LH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6879594 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature