The Effects of Soil Depth on the Structure of Microbial Communities in Agricultural Soils in Iowa, USA.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the differences in microbial community abundance, composition and diversity throughout the depth profiles in soils collected from corn and soybean fields in lowa, USA using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The results revealed decreased richness and diversity in microbial communities at increasing soil depth. Soil microbial community composition differed due to crop type only in the top 60 cm and due to location only in the top 90 cm. While the relative abundance of most phyla decreased in deep soils, the relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria increased and dominated agricultural soils below the depth of 90 cm. Although soil depth was the most important factor shaping microbial communities, edaphic factors including soil organic matter, soil bulk densit

SUBMITTER: Hao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7851703 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature