Effects of different nitrogen applications and straw return depth on straw microbial and carbon and nitrogen cycles in paddy fields in the cool zone

Abstract

Straw is an important source of organic fertilizer for soil enrichment, however, the effects of different nitrogen(N) application rates and depths on straw decomposition microorganisms and carbon and nitrogen cycling under full straw return conditions in cool regions of Northeast China are not clear at this stage. In this paper, we applied macro-genome sequencing technology to investigate the effects of different N application rates (110 kg hm−2, 120 kg hm−2, 130 kg hm−2, 140 kg hm−2, 150 kg hm−2) and depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm) on straw decomposing microorganisms and N cycling in paddy fields in the cool zone of Northeast China. The results showed that (1) about 150 functional genes are involved in the carbon cycle process of degradation during the degradation of returned straw, of which the largest number of functional genes are involved in the methane production pathway, about 42, the highest abundance of functional genes involved in the citric acid cycle pathway. There are 22 kinds of functional genes involved in the nitrogen cycle degradation process, among which there are more kinds involved in nitrogen fixation, with 4 kinds. (2) High nitrogen application (150 kg hm−2) inhibited the carbon and nitrogen conversion processes, and the abundance of straw-degrading microorganisms and nitrogen-cycling functional genes was relatively high at a nitrogen application rate of 130 kg hm−2. (3) Depth-dependent heterogeneity of the microbial community was reduced throughout the vertical space. At 71 days of straw return, the nitrogen cycling function decreased and some carbon functional genes showed an increasing trend with the increase of straw return depth. The nitrogen cycle function decreased with the increase of straw returning depth. The microbial community structure was best and the abundance of functional genes involved in the nitrogen cycling process was higher under the conditions of 0–15 cm of returning depth and 130 kg hm−2 of nitrogen application.