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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2014, Vol. 13 Issue (2): 415-425    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60424-4
Soil & Fertilization · Irrigation · Agro-Ecology & Environment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Variation of Potential Nitrification and Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacterial Community with Plant-Growing Period in Apple Orchard Soil
 LIU Ling-zhi, QIN Si-jun, LÜ De-guo, WANG Bing-ying , YANG Ze-yuan
1.Key Laboratory for Northern Fruit Cultivation and Physio-Ecology of Shenyang City/College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, P.R.China
2.College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, P.R.China
3.Foreign Language Department, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, P.R.China
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摘要  In this study, we investigated the potential nitrification and community structure of soil-based ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in apple orchard soil during different growth periods and explored the effects of environmental factors on nitrification activity and AOB community composition in the soil of a Hanfu apple orchard, using a culture-dependent technique and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). We observed that nitrification activity and AOB abundance were the highest in November, lower in May, and the lowest in July. The results of statistical analysis indicated that total nitrogen (N) content, NH4 +-N content, NO3 --N content, and pH showed significant correlations with AOB abundance and nitrification activity in soil. The Shannon-Winner diversity, as well as species richness and evenness indices (determined by PCR-DGGE banding patterns) in soil samples were the highest in September, but the lowest in July, when compared to additional sampled dates. The DGGE fingerprints of soil-based 16S rRNA genes in November were apparently distinct from those observed in May, July, and September, possessing the lowest species richness indices and the highest dominance indices among all four growth periods. Fourteen DGGE bands were excised for sequencing. The resulting analysis indicated that all AOB communities belonged to the β-Proteobacteria phylum, with the dominant AOB showing high similarity to the Nitrosospira genus. Therefore, soil-based environmental factors, such as pH variation and content of NH4 +-N and NO3 --N, can substantially influence the abundance of AOB communities in soil, and play a critical role in soil-based nitrification kinetics.

Abstract  In this study, we investigated the potential nitrification and community structure of soil-based ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in apple orchard soil during different growth periods and explored the effects of environmental factors on nitrification activity and AOB community composition in the soil of a Hanfu apple orchard, using a culture-dependent technique and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). We observed that nitrification activity and AOB abundance were the highest in November, lower in May, and the lowest in July. The results of statistical analysis indicated that total nitrogen (N) content, NH4 +-N content, NO3 --N content, and pH showed significant correlations with AOB abundance and nitrification activity in soil. The Shannon-Winner diversity, as well as species richness and evenness indices (determined by PCR-DGGE banding patterns) in soil samples were the highest in September, but the lowest in July, when compared to additional sampled dates. The DGGE fingerprints of soil-based 16S rRNA genes in November were apparently distinct from those observed in May, July, and September, possessing the lowest species richness indices and the highest dominance indices among all four growth periods. Fourteen DGGE bands were excised for sequencing. The resulting analysis indicated that all AOB communities belonged to the β-Proteobacteria phylum, with the dominant AOB showing high similarity to the Nitrosospira genus. Therefore, soil-based environmental factors, such as pH variation and content of NH4 +-N and NO3 --N, can substantially influence the abundance of AOB communities in soil, and play a critical role in soil-based nitrification kinetics.
Keywords:  apple orchard soil       ammonia-oxidizing bacteria       potential nitrification       community structure       PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis  
Received: 31 October 2012   Accepted:
Corresponding Authors:  QIN Si-jun, E-mail: qinsijun1975@163.com; Lü De-guo, Tel/Fax: +86-24-88487219, E-mail: shynydxgshzp@163.com     E-mail:  qinsijun1975@163.com
About author:  LIU Ling-zhi, Mobile: 13238832696, E-mail: liulingzhi74@163.com

Cite this article: 

LIU Ling-zhi, QIN Si-jun, Lü De-guo, WANG Bing-ying , YANG Ze-yuan. 2014. Variation of Potential Nitrification and Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacterial Community with Plant-Growing Period in Apple Orchard Soil. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(2): 415-425.

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