AUTHOR=Huang Chunguo , Han Xiaoli , Yang Zhenping , Chen Yinglong , Rengel Zed 

TITLE=Sowing Methods Influence Soil Bacterial Diversity and Community Composition in a Winter Wheat-Summer Maize Rotation System on the Loess Plateau

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00192

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.00192

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Soil bacterial diversity and community composition are crucial for soil health and plant growth, and their dynamics in various agricultural systems in response to agronomic practices is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil bacterial diversity and abundance to different sowing methods, and the presence in varying soil depth and distance to plants in a winter wheat-summer maize crop rotation on the Loess Plateau (35°17′38″N, 111°40′24″E). The experiment was laid out as randomized block design in three replications. Sowing methods trialled were: traditional sowing (TS), film-mulched ridge and furrow sowing (FMR＆F), wide ridge and narrow furrow sowing (WR＆NF) and unplanted control (CK). The result showed that FMR＆F treatment improved soil properties more than other sowing methods, but there was no significant difference in soil properties and bacterial diversity between WR＆NF and TS treatments. Soil properties differed significantly between the rhizosphere soil and non-rhizosphere soil. Soil bacterial diversity at the phylum and the genus levels was strongly influenced by sowing methods and soil depth. Bacillus, Psychrobacter, Brochothrix and Lactococcus were the most abundant genera in winter wheat-summer maize rotation on Loess Soil. Strong correlation between changes in soil properties and soil bacterial diversity and abundance was identified. In summary, the wide ridge and narrow furrow sowing method improved soil quality without compromising soil bacterial diversity and abundances compared to the film-mulched ridge and furrow sowing (FMR&F) treatment.