Microbial communities and functional genes of nitrogen cycling in the rhizosphere of rice

Nitrogen-cycling microbial communities in seven different soil types and a tropical rice field were investigated by monitoring the abundances of nifH, amoA, nasA, narG, nirK, nirS, and nosZ gene copies. Additions of N (10 and 100 mM) in the soil microcosms led to typical changes in the abundances of nifH and nasA.

In the rhizosphere of field-grown rice, the application of N fertilizer or microbial inoculants in combination, the cultivation methods, and the plant growth stages showed characteristic changes. Rapid detection of changes in nitrogen-cycling microbial communities provides a new option to identify the best management practices.