Irrigation water salinity structures the bacterial communities of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)-associated bulk soil.

ABSTRACT: The irrigation of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) with saline groundwater is routinely practiced in the agroecosystems of arid environments because of freshwater scarcity. This leads to salts deposition in topsoil layers and increases soil salinization. However, how different irrigation sources affect soil microbiota is poorly understood. Bulk soil samples were collected from date farms receiving non-saline water and saline groundwater to examine bacterial communities using metabarcoding. Overall, bacterial diversity measures (Shannon diversity index, richness, and evenness) did not vary between irrigation sources. Bacterial communities were structured based on irrigation water sources and were significantly associated with their electrical conductivity. Of 5,155 operational taxono

SUBMITTER: Loganathachetti DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9388049 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature