Composition, activity and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities responses to inputs of phosphorus fertilizer enriched with beneficial microbes in degraded Brunic Arenosol

Abstract

AbstractAnthropogenic‐induced deterioration of soil health remains a global problem, resulting in a diminished productivity of agroecosystems. In order to improve soil quality, we investigated the impact of phosphorus biofertilizer on the microbiological parameters of soil (type Brunic Arenosol) degraded as a result of inappropriate cultivation and fertilization, characterized by low pH and decrease in K and Mg content. Two‐year field experiment included control treatment (FC) without microbial enrichment and FA100 (fertilizer amendment at optimal dose) and FA60 (fertilizer amendment at 40% reduced dose) treatments containing beneficial microorganisms. The results showed that the biofertilizer enhanced soil enzymatic activity (as expressed by the increased activities of urease, protease, acid phosphomonoesterase, and β‐glucosidase), increased number of operational taxonomic units associated with metabolic processes (including phosphorus related pathways and degradation of xenobiotics), improved crop yield, increased bacterial diversity, and changed the quantity of phytoavailable phosphorus in the soil. Biofertilizer also stimulated the occurrence of plant growth promoting microorganisms involved in phosphorus biotransformations, decomposition of organic matter, nitrogen fixation, and protection plants against pathogens. Next generation sequencing (NGS) and Biolog analyses showed that the composition of soil microbiome was affected also by soil sampling time, suggesting seasonal variations in the preferred carbon sources and level of C‐substrates utilization, and pointing the differences in the relative abundance of individual microbial groups at particular stages of the experiment. Taking into consideration the improvement of microbiological indicators of soil health, phosphorus biofertilizer seems to be effective approach to implement in sustainable agriculture linking soil microbiome quality with the general soil condition.