Fertility Gradient Research Articles

Untangling the Role of Assortative Mating in Educational Reproduction in Twelve European Countries

In this study, we explore how educational differences in demographic behavior – in particular, mating patterns and fertility – mediate the intergenerational reproduction of educational inequality in twelve European countries. Although this research interest itself is not new, we contribute to this debate by adopting a prospective approach and scaling it to include multiple countries and cohorts. To this end, we leverage a series of complementary datasets and the inferential method developed by Song and Mare (2015) and advanced by Skopek and Leopold (2020) to estimate the components of a stylized educational reproduction model. We then employ a simple decomposition analysis to quantify the contributions of different pathways to prospective educational reproduction rates across educational backgrounds and explore the differences across cohorts and countries. We report several findings. Most notably, (1) the intergenerational reproduction of educational inequality persists in all twelve countries and is barely offset by small (and declining) negative educational gradients in fertility, (2) educational differences in selection into partnership are small and do not account for much inequality, and (3) the role of assortative mating, where present, is ambiguous because it both reinforces inequality via its effects on resources within the family and offsets it via its effects on fertility. * This article belongs to a special issue on “Changes in Educational Homogamy and Its Consequences”.

Spatial Distribution of Fine Roots in Pinus tabuliformis and Populus tomentosa and Their Competition in Soils Response to Nutrient Availability and Proximity

Developing high-efficiency mixed forests or converting low-efficiency pure forests into near-natural mixed forests with optimal structure and function is a crucial aspect of forest management. In the initial stages of afforestation or stand improvement, fertilization and planting distance significantly influence the formation and development of mixed forests. This study investigated how nutrients and planting distance affect root competition between five-year-old Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) and one-year-old Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa) and identified the factors influencing the competitive ability of these two species. Field planting experiments used three fertilization gradients (63 g·m−2, 125 g·m−2, and 250 g·m−2) of Stanley compound fertilizer with an N:P:K ratio of 2:1:1 and two planting distances (25 cm and 50 cm). Each experimental group was planted in circular plots with a radius of 0.5 m, yielding a total of nine plots. The effects of different fertilization concentrations and planting distances on root distribution were analyzed both horizontally and vertically. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between roots and soil nutrients, while Levins’ niche overlap formula evaluated the differences in root competition between the species. Furthermore, principal component analysis quantified the relationships between impact factors and the root competitiveness of the two species. Results indicated that both species primarily allocated their fine root biomass to the shallow 0–10 cm layer. Pinus tabuliformis primarily extended to the southwest, while Populus tomentosa predominantly grew to the north. Both species exhibited enhanced root growth at moderate nutrient concentrations of 125 g·m−2. At a planting distance of 50 cm from Pinus tabuliformis, Populus tomentosa seedlings demonstrated superior root growth compared to those planted 25 cm apart. Pinus tabuliformis demonstrated greater competitive ability in the deeper 10–30 cm soil layers compared to Populus tomentosa, which showed the opposite pattern in the shallow 0–10 cm layers. Furthermore, available phosphorus (contribution rate of one impact factor on the competitiveness indexes, CR: −0.998), organic matter (CR: −0.978), total nitrogen (CR: −0.947), and alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen (CR: −0.937) significantly negatively impacted the competitiveness indexes of Pinus tabuliformis. The fine root surface area, volume, and length of Populus tomentosa also significantly negatively affected its competitiveness indexes, with all contribution rates exceeding an absolute value of 0.847. Results indicated that the root distributions of Pinus tabuliformis and Populus tomentosa overlapped spatially, with each species exhibiting advantages in different regions. Therefore, in future plantation reconstruction and forest management, it is essential to thoroughly evaluate root, soil, and fertilizer factors, adjusting planting distances accordingly, to effectively mitigate competition between the two species and successfully establish a mixed forest.

Maize–peanut intercropping and N fertilization changed the potential nitrification rate by regulating the ratio of AOB to AOA in soils

Maize–peanut intercropping could potentially mitigate nitrogen (N) loss from the soil, a process primarily governed by the net nitrification rate. However, the impact of maize–peanut intercropping on the potential nitrification rate (PNR) and its relationships with key players, such as ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), are not well understood. Herein, we conducted a field experiment involving two management systems and two crops, namely, maize (MPm) and peanut (MPp) intercropping, maize monoculture (MM), and peanut monoculture (PM), under three N fertilization rates (no N fertilization, 150 kg N ha−1, and 300 kg N ha−1). Under intercropping (MPm and MPp), the abundance of AOA amoA gene increased by 64.8% and 60.3% and the abundance of AOB amoA gene increased by 63.2% and 68.2% compared to the MM and PM monoculture systems, respectively. Furthermore, the abundances of AOA and AOB decreased in MPp and MM, while AOB increased in MPm and PM across the N fertilization gradient. The PNR increased corresponding to the N fertilization rates, with intercropping enhancing the PNR in peanut-planted soil but reducing the PNR in maize-planted soil compared to monocropping. Notably, no significant positive relationship between the abundances of AOA or AOB and the PNR. Random forest analysis indicated that the AOB/AOA ratio was an important predictor of the PNR. N fertilization and intercropping regulated the AOB/AOA ratio mainly through controlling the ammonia content and the soil C/N, respectively. These findings highlight the substantial impacts of N fertilization and intercropping on PNR, with the AOB/AOA ratio emerging as a valuable predictive indicator for the PNR.

Maize/soybean intercropping with nitrogen supply levels increases maize yield and nitrogen uptake by influencing the rhizosphere bacterial diversity of soil.

Intercropping practices play a crucial role in enhancing and maintaining the biodiversity and resiliency of agroecosystems, as well as promoting stable and high crop yields. Yet the relationships between soil nitrogen, microbes, and yield in maize cultivated under maize/soybean intercropping systems remain unclear. To fill that knowledge gap, here we collected maize rhizosphere soil at the staminate stage after 6 consecutive years of maize/soybean intercropping, to investigate how intercropping and nitrogen application rates affected nitrogen utilization by crops and soil microbial community composition and function. We also examined correlations of those responses with yields, to clarify the main ways that yield is enhanced via intercropping and by nitrogenous fertilizer gradient changes generated by different nitrogen application rates. The amount of applied fertilizer was 240 kg N ha-1 was best for obtaining a high maize yield and also led to the greatest nitrogen-use efficiency and bacterial diversity. Under the same N application rate, intercropping increased the maize yield by 31.17% and soil nitrogen (total, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen) by 14.53%, on average, in comparison to monocropping. The enrichment of Gemmatimonas and Bradyrhizobium significantly increased the soil nitrogen content, and a greater relative abundance of Sphingomonas and Gemmatimonas increased the maize yield, whereas enrichment of Candidatus_Udaeobacter and Bradyrhizobium decreased it. The benefits of intercropping mainly arise from augmenting the abundance of beneficial microorganisms and enhancing the efficiency of N use by crop plants. This study's findings are of key importance to bolster the stability of agro-ecosystems, to guide the scientific rational use of nitrogen fertilizers, and to provide a sound theoretical basis for achieving the optimalmanagement of intensive crop-planting patterns and green sustainable development.

Inductive cum targeted yield model-based integrated fertilizer prescription for sweet corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata) on Alfisols of Southern India.

Striking the right nutrient balance is essential for sustainable farming and ecosystem health. In this regard, field experiments were conducted in three phases viz., fertility gradient experiment, main experiment and validation experiment through a soil test crop response approach to develop and validate fertilizer prescription equations for sweet corn in comparison with general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. The soil data, fresh cob yield, and NPK uptake were used for establishing four important basic parameters, viz., nutrient requirement (kg t-1), contribution of nutrients from fertilizers, soil, and organic manure. The results revealed that nutrients required to produce one tonne of fresh cob yield (NR) were 5.85 kg, 0.87 kg and 4.31kg for N, P and K, respectively under the STCR NPK alone approach and 6.07 kg, 0.92 kg and 4.33 kg for N, P and K, respectively under STCR NPK+FYM approach. In the validation experiment, STCR NPK+FYM approach for the targeted yield of 25 t ha-1 recorded higher fresh cob yield (23.38 t ha-1) and dry stover yield (35.07 t ha-1) which were significantly higher compared to general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. The developed STCR equations for the aforesaid crop are valid as the percent deviation of cob yield from the targeted yield was within ±10%. Similarly, highest nutrient use efficiency was achieved with the STCR approach, specifically when targeting a lower yield through an NPK+FYM mode. Thus, implementation of the STCR approach of fertilizer prescription, with or without FYM, at targeted yields of 25 and 22 t ha-1, not only surpassed the effects of the other fertilizer recommendation approach in terms of cob yields, but also increased NPK uptake, improved nutrient use efficiency and greater economic returns.

Reconstructing Prospective Intergenerational Educational Mobility in 12 Countries

In this article, we reconstruct prospective intergenerational educational mobility and explore fertility's role in this process for women born between 1925 and 1950 in 12 European countries. We do so by combining high-quality retrospective data (Generations and Gender Survey) and low-requirement prospective datasets using an inferential method developed and advanced in prior research. Our analysis shows that the negative educational fertility gradient partly compensates for the inequality in prospective mobility rates between lower and higher educated women and is most pronounced in high-inequality contexts. However, fertility's role is small and declining and thus does not account for much of the differences in mobility rates between countries. We also explore the relative importance of sibship size effects in mediating the effect of fertility gradient, finding it negligible. Finally, we explore the correspondence between prospective and retrospective estimates in the reconstruction of prospective mobility rates and suggest why the former, when available, must be preferred.

Explaining the mechanisms behind niche dimensionality and light-driving species diversity based on functional traits

Two prevalent ecological mechanisms, niche dimensionality and light asymmetry, may well explain species loss with fertilization gradients in grassland communities. Although there is still controversy surrounding the two competitive mechanisms that maintain species coexistence, few studies have examined the patterns of change in dissimilarity in species composition (β-diversity) and the relative explanatory contributions of plant functional traits to α- and β-diversity when multiple resources are added. To clarify this knowledge gap, we conducted a 6-year experiment of resource addition in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to assess how species richness and spatial β-diversity are affected by increasing numbers of added resources (NAR) and light limitation. Our results found that both NAR and light limitation led to decreased species richness, suggesting that niche dimensionality and light asymmetry may contribute equally to species loss, rather than either alone. Moreover, NAR is the primary factor responsible for the increase in β-diversity, which exhibits a negative relationship with species richness. Furthermore, the increase in height is the most likely explanation for β-diversity, while the increase in SLA is the most likely explanation for species richness, thereby indicating the changes in species richness and composition can be effectively explained by the response of certain morphological functional traits with the addition of multiple resources. Future research should focus on the complex interactions of different ecological mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity in grassland ecosystems all over the world.

Disturbance‐mediated community characteristics and anthropogenic pressure intensify understorey plant invasions in natural forests

Abstract Although disturbance is considered a major driver of plant invasions across many systems, our understanding of the mechanisms by which disturbance mediates understorey invasions in natural forests is limited. We used a national natural forest inventory dataset spanning New Zealand's wide climatic and soil fertility gradients to disentangle disturbance‐mediated community characteristics driving abundance, species richness and functional composition of understorey plant invasions. Disturbance‐mediated declines in canopy tree abundance and increases in soil fertility and pH increased non‐native plant richness and cover relative to co‐occurring native plant assemblages. Cover of non‐native species also increased with proximity to anthropogenic land cover. Non‐native plant assemblages had higher community‐weighted mean (CWM) values for specific leaf area (SLA) but lower CWM values for height and woodiness relative to native assemblages irrespective of disturbance. However, greater nearby anthropogenic land cover drove increased woodiness in non‐native assemblages but decreased woodiness in co‐occurring native assemblages. Synthesis: Our study provides the first national‐scale evidence that canopy disturbance effects on soil properties increase both richness and abundance of non‐native plants in natural forest understories. We also revealed functional trait differences between native and non‐native assemblages (SLA in particular), which could alter fundamental forest ecosystem processes like litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. Finally, landscape‐scale anthropogenic impacts may exacerbate forest invasions by increasing non‐native abundance and favouring woody invaders, which may achieve dominance in future forest communities over the longer‐term.

Nonlinear responses of ericaceous and ectomycorrhizal Arctic shrubs across a long‐term experimental nutrient gradient

AbstractIn the Arctic tundra, warming is anticipated to stimulate nutrient release and potentially alleviate plant nutrient limitations. Typically simulated by fertilization experiments that saturate plant nutrient demand, future increases in soil fertility are thought to favor ectomycorrhizal (EcM) over ericaceous shrubs and have often been identified as a key driver of Arctic shrub expansion. However, the projected increases in fertility will likely vary in their alleviation of nutrient limitations. The resulting responses of shrubs and their mycorrhizae across the gradient of nutrient limitation may be nonlinear and could contradict the current predictions of tundra vegetation shifts. We compared the functional responses of two dominant shrubs, EcM dwarf birch (Betula nana) and ericaceous Labrador tea (Rhododendron tomentosum), across a long‐term nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization gradient experiment in Arctic Alaska. Using linear mixed‐effects modeling, we tested the responses of shrub cover, height, and root enzyme activities to soil fertility. We found that B. nana cover and height linearly increased with soil fertility. In contrast, R. tomentosum cover initially increased, but decreased after surpassing the intermediate levels of increased soil fertility. Its height did not change. Enzyme activity did not respond to soil fertility on EcM‐colonized B. nana roots, but sharply declined on R. tomentosum roots. Overall, the nonlinear responses of shrubs to our fertility gradient demonstrate the importance of experiments grounded in replicated regression design. Our results indicate that under moderate increases in soil fertility, Arctic shrub expansion may not only include deciduous EcM shrubs but also ericaceous shrubs. Regardless of shifts aboveground, changes in root enzyme activity belowground point to some EcM shrub species playing a more influential role in tundra soils; as EcM roots remained steady in their liberation of soil organic nutrients with heightened soil fertility, degradative root enzyme activity on the dominant ericaceous shrub dropped—in some instances with even the slightest increase in fertility.

Linking topography, soil variability, and early successional vegetation in abandoned gold mines in the tropical rainforest of Colombia's Chocó Biogeographic region

Soil fertility heterogeneity is one of the main factors affecting early recovery and plant succession toward a target plant community. This study examined the influence of topography on the diversity and composition of plant communities established in areas degraded by opencast mining in Chocó, Colombia. Soil fertility and plant community were characterized in the four topographic formations identified in the abandoned mines: plains (PL), slopes (SLP), floodplains (FP), and sand and gravel mounds (SGM). Topographic formations did not result in significant differences in soil properties. However, a gradient of fertility and vegetation cover was observed: from the SGM, with less fertile soils and little vegetation, to the PL, SLP, and FP, with the most fertile soils and greater vegetation cover and density. The species composition found in PL, SLP, and FP was similar but differed from that of SGM. These results suggest that the SGM does not promote early revegetation in the mines. However, experimental studies are necessary to determine how topographic formations and soil conditions resulting from mining should be managed to facilitate the early recovery of vegetation and the ecological restoration of areas affected by mining.

Effect of soil nutrient management on soil weed seed bank dynamics across a soil fertility gradient in smallholder farms, Eastern Zimbabwe

Weed seed banks are latent biotic stress contributors to low crop production among smallholder farms. The objective of this study was to investigate effect of repeated soil nutrient amendments on weed seed bank dynamics in eastern Zimbabwe. Soil samples were taken from three farms with low, medium and high soil organic carbon (SOC) along the catena. Sampled treatments included varying combinations of compound D (7%N, 14%P, 7% K) fertiliser, cattle manure and lime. Weeds that emerged per plot were counted by species and data was tested for normality before running a linear mixed-effects model and Restricted Maximum Likelihood. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed to establish the relationship between seasons, SOC, soil nutrient amendment, and emerged weeds. Significant (p < .05) species richness (Margalef index), and Shannon Weiner index were recorded in the medium (6.4g kg-1soil), high (8 g kg-1 soil) and low (< 3.9 g kg-1soil) SOC. Weed species emergence was significantly (p < .05) influenced by the level of SOC along the catena positions, representing results from the source. Emergency and abundance of weeds such as Richardia scabra, was associated with low SOC acidic sandy soils from the upper catena. However, application of nutrients (NPK+lime treatment) reduced weed species counts from 1.96±0.12 to 1.4±0.12. Cattle manure and NPK+CM treatments recorded significantly higher weed emergence, and weed biomass; compared to the control. Clearly, cattle manure treatments significantly increase the soil weed seed bank; thus, weeding intensity is likely to increase in cattle manure treated fields.

Studies on Creation of Operational Range of Soil Fertility to Evolve Fertilizer Prescription Equations under Soil Test Crop Response Correlation Studies on Rainfed Bt Cotton

To derive fertilizer prescription equations for rainfed Bt cotton within the framework of Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) studies, a meticulously designed gradient experiment was executed at the esteemed Cotton Research Station located in Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Employing a targeted yield methodology, the investigation centered on the cultivation of fodder sorghum as the exhaustive crop during the kharif season. Adhering to an inductive-cum-yield target approach, the experimental plot was meticulously partitioned into three equitably-sized strips, each delineating a distinct fertility gradient. These gradients were meticulously established through the application of varying fertilizer regimes: N0P0K0, N1P1K1, and N2P2K2. Notably, the recommended fertilizer regimen (N1P1K1) encompassed precise quantities of essential nutrients, specifically 60 kg ha-1 of nitrogen (N), 345 kg ha-1 of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), and 96 kg ha-1 of potassium oxide (K2O). Fodder sorghum emerged as the strategic choice for the exhaustive crop, strategically cultivated to expedite the transformation of applied fertilizers within the soil matrix, leveraging both plant and microbial processes. The overarching objective of this methodological approach was to establish a discernible operational range of soil fertility across the designated fertility strips. This was meticulously evaluated through meticulous analyses of variations in fodder yield uptake and pertinent soil test values.

Coordination among leaf and fine-root traits along a strong natural soil fertility gradient

Coordination among leaf and fine-root traits along a strong natural soil fertility gradient

Microfoundations of the weakening educational gradient in fertility

The disappearance of the social gradient in fertility represents a paradigm shift that has called into question the validity of theories that predicted a decline in fertility with increased access to education and resources. Emerging theories have tried to explain this trend by highlighting a potential change in the fertility preferences of more educated couples. In this paper we add additional elements to this explanation. Using a computational modelling approach, we show that it is still possible to simulate the weakening social gradient in fertility, in the context of steady declines in family size preferences. Our results show that one of the key drivers of the change in the education–fertility relationship can be found in the transition to an increasingly regulated fertility regime. As the share of unplanned births decreases over time, the negative association between education and fertility weakens and the mechanisms that positively connect educational attainment with desired fertility become dominant.

Dissimilar forests along the Rio Doce watershed call for multiple restoration references to avoid biotic homogenization

An environmental disaster caused by the rupture of a mining tailings dam has impacted a large area of the Rio Doce watershed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, resulting in unprecedented damage at spatial and temporal scales. The Atlantic Forest is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots. A long history of land use conversion has resulted in a highly fragmented landscape. Despite numerous restoration initiatives, these efforts have often biased criteria and use limited species assemblages. We conducted a comprehensive synthesis of the plant community in riparian forests along the Rio Doce watershed. Our work detailed vegetation composition (tree and sapling strata) and examined its relationship with edaphic and landscape factors, aiming to inform restoration projects with scientifically robust knowledge. A total of 4906 individuals from the tree strata and 4565 individuals from the sapling strata were recorded, representing a total of 1192 species from 75 families. Only 0.8% of the tree species and 0.5% of the sapling species occurred in all sampled sectors, with over 84% of the species occurring in a single watershed sector for both strata. We observed a high species heterogeneity modulated by turnover (92.3% in the tree, and 92.7% in the sapling strata) among sites. Overall, our research revealed a gradient of soil fertility influencing species composition across different strata. Additionally, we discovered that preserved landscapes had a positive impact on species diversity within both strata. The species exclusivity in the sampled sites and the high turnover rate imply the need to consider multiple reference ecosystems when restoring the watershed to reduce the risk of biotic homogenization. Finally, the reference ecosystems defined here serve as a basis for the selection of locally particular species in the implementation of restoration projects that aim to improve biodiversity, ecosystem services, and water security.

Optimizing Nutrient Recommendations for Bottle Gourd Crop by Formulation of Targeted Yield Equations in an Inceptisol of Odisha, India

A field experiment was conducted to formulate targeted yield equations for bottle gourd under a rice-vegetable cropping system in an Inceptisol of Odisha. The experiment started with the creation of three soil fertility gradient stripes by applying no fertilizer, recommended dose and double the recommended dose of fertilizer in rice (cv. Lalat) during the kharif season. Each fertility gradient strip was divided into 24 sub-plots and superimposed with 21 different combinations of nutrients containing N, P, and K; FYM in two plots at 5t and 10t ha-1 and one plot was kept as absolute control following which, bottle gourd was grown during the rabi season. The highest yield (116.3q ha-1) of bottle gourd was achieved in S-III with an application of 70, 100, and 100 kg N, P2O5, and K2O per hectare, respectively. The nutrient requirement (NR) for producing one quintal of bottle gourd yield was 0.30, 0.20, and 0.30 kg N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. The effect of graded doses of fertilizers on nutrient requirement, yield and nutrient uptake of bottle gourd were studied and subsequently, fertilizer prescription equations were derived for targeted yield of bottle gourd. A ready reckoner chart has also been prepared for facilitating farmers to achieve the desired yield target of bottle gourd by applying the required quantity of plant nutrients in the existing soil fertility level. The equations provide a basis for site-specific nutrient management based on desired yield targets under varying soil fertility conditions.

Above‐ and belowground strategies of tropical montane tree species are coordinated and driven by small‐scale nitrogen availability

Abstract The question whether the strategies of above‐ and belowground plant organs are coordinated as predicted by the plant economics spectrum theory is still under debate. We aim to determine the leading dimensions of tree trait variation for above‐ and belowground functional traits, and test whether they represent spectra of adaptation along a soil fertility gradient in tropical Andean forests. We measured leaf, stem and fine root functional traits, and individual‐level soil nutrient availability for 433 trees from 52 species at three elevations between 1000 and 3000 m a.s.l. We found close coordination between above– and belowground functional traits related to the trade‐off between resource acquisition and conservation, whereas root diameter and specific root length formed an independent axis of covarying traits. The position of a tree species along the acquisition–conservation axis of the trait space was closely associated with local soil nitrogen, but not phosphorus, availability. Our results imply that above‐ and belowground plant functional traits determine at which edaphic microhabitats coexisting tree species can grow, which is potentially crucial for understanding community assembly in species‐rich tropical montane forests. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Changes in leaf lifespan, nitrogen resorption, and mean residence time of leaf nitrogen along a soil fertility gradient in an evergreen oak tree.

The ability of plants to retain nitrogen (N) for a long period of time is critical to their N use efficiency, growth, and fitness, particularly in infertile environments. The mean residence time of leaf N (MRTL) and its two determinants, leaf lifespan and N resorption efficiency (rN, the fraction of the total leaf N pool that is resorbed during leaf senescence), have been hypothesized to increase plastically with decreasing soil N fertility but this remains to be fully tested. To avoid confusion by random changes in these characteristics in a relatively narrow N fertility range, MRTL, leaf lifespan, and N resorption efficiency were measured in Quercus glauca over a broad N fertility range. In the high to moderate N fertility range, leaf lifespan and rN increased with decreasing N addition rate, and thus the MRTL increased. However, in the moderate to low N fertility range, leaf lifespan increased but rN decreased significantly, so MRTL decreased. The decrease in rN occurred because the senesced leaf N concentration was almost constant at the lower limit while the green leaf N concentration decreased in this range. The hump-shaped quadratic responses of MRTL and rN along the N fertility gradient suggest that incorrect conclusions about the response of these traits to N fertility variation may be drawn from experiments that include only a few fertility levels, and N recycling within leaf canopy alone cannot achieve efficient N use in infertile environments.

The microbial community, nutrient supply and crop yields differ along a potassium fertilizer gradient under wheat–maize double-cropping systems

Soil microorganisms play critical roles in ecosystem function. However, the relative impact of the potassium (K) fertilizer gradient on the microbial community in wheat-maize double-cropping systems remains unclear. In this long-term field experiment (2008–2019), we researched bacterial and fungal diversity, composition, and community assemblage in the soil along a K fertilizer gradient in the wheat season (K0, no K fertilizer; K1, 45 kg ha−1 K2O; K2, 90 kg ha−1 K2O; K3, 135 kg ha−1 K2O) and in the maize season (K0, no K fertilizer; K1, 150 kg ha−1 K2O; K2, 300 kg ha−1 K2O; K3, 450 kg ha−1 K2O) using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal internally transcribed spacer (ITS) data. We observed that environmental variables, such as mean annual soil temperature (MAT) and precipitation, available K, ammonium, nitrate, and organic matter, impacted the soil bacterial and fungal communities, and their impacts varied with fertilizer treatments and crop species. Furthermore, the relative abundance of bacteria involved in soil nutrient transformation (phylum Actinobacteria and class Alphaproteobacteria) in the wheat season was significantly increased compared to the maize season, and the optimal K fertilizer dosage (K2 treatment) boosted the relative bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation (genus Lactobacillus) and soil denitrification (phylum Proteobacteria) bacteria in the wheat season. The abundance of the soil bacterial community promoting root growth and nutrient absorption (genus Herbaspirillum) in the maize season was improved compared to the wheat season, and the K2 treatment enhanced the bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation (genus MND1) and soil nitrogen cycling (genus Nitrospira) genera in the maize season. The results indicated that the bacterial and fungal communities in the double-cropping system exhibited variable sensitivities and assembly mechanisms along a K fertilizer gradient, and microhabitats explained the largest amount of the variation in crop yields, and improved wheat-maize yields by 11.2–22.6 and 9.2–23.8% with K addition, respectively. These modes are shaped contemporaneously by the different meteorological factors and soil nutrient changes in the K fertilizer gradients.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are more sensitive to high soil nitrogen levels in forests exposed to nitrogen deposition.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are essential for nitrogen (N) cycling in many temperate forests and responsive to anthropogenic N addition, which generally decreases host carbon (C) allocation to the fungi. In the boreal region, however, ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass has been found to correlate positively with soil N availability. Still, responses to anthropogenic N input, for instance through atmospheric deposition, are commonly negative. To elucidate whether variation in N supply affects ectomycorrhizal fungi differently depending on geographical context, we investigated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities along fertility gradients located in two nemo-boreal forest regions with similar ranges in soil N : C ratios and inorganic N availability but contrasting rates of N deposition. Ectomycorrhizal biomass and community composition remained relatively stable across the N gradient with low atmospheric N deposition, but biomass decreased and the community changed more drastically with increasing N availability in the gradient subjected to higher rates of N deposition. Moreover, potential activities of enzymes involved in ectomycorrhizal mobilisation of organic N decreased as N availability increased. In forests with low external input, we propose that stabilising feedbacks in tree-fungal interactions maintain ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass and communities even in N-richsoils. By contrast, anthropogenic N input seems to impair ectomycorrhizal functions.