AUTHOR=Shi Fengyu , Meng Xinpeng , Li Jiaxin , Yang Dan , Liu Jianbin , Liu Xingzhong , Xiang Meichun , Zhu Yingbo 

TITLE=Impact of nitrogen fertilization on soil microbial diversity, its mediated enzyme activities, and stem nematode population in sweet potato fields

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1528575

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2025.1528575

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Excessive nitrogen fertilization in sweet potato cultivation poses significant ecological and economic challenges in China, negatively impacting soil health by altering microbial community diversity, enzyme activities, and increasing the risk of stem nematode damage. In this study, we conducted a field trial in Northeast China, applying 0–72 kg of urea-N per hectare to brown soil under a five-year sweet potato cropping system. The results demonstrated that optimal nitrogen fertilization (64.8 kg ha−1) significantly promoted beneficial microbial populations, enhanced soil urease activity, and reduced the incidence of stem nematode disease while maintaining high sweet potato yields.