Summary
This 2022 field study documents the structural and functional succession of soil microbiomes in association with soil acidification under agricultural intensification in China. The authors provide empirical evidence that intensified farming practices—potentially through fertiliser application, tillage, or monoculture—drive acidification whilst simultaneously selecting for altered microbial assemblages with distinct metabolic capabilities. The findings contribute to understanding of how soil microbiome shifts may reflect and potentially mediate soil degradation under intensification.
UK applicability
Soil acidification is a recognised problem in some UK arable and grassland systems, particularly under intensive fertiliser regimes, though UK soils show variable pH buffering capacity compared with the likely study soils. The mechanistic links between acidification and microbiome succession inferred here may be transferable to temperate systems, but UK-specific validation would be needed given differences in parent material, climate, and management history.
Key measures
Soil pH, microbial community composition (16S rRNA amplicon sequencing), microbial functional genes or metabolic profiles, soil chemical properties
Outcomes reported
The study examined correlations between soil acidification and changes in soil microbial community structure and metabolic function across intensification gradients. Measurements included soil pH, microbial taxonomic composition (16S rRNA sequencing), and functional gene abundance or metabolic potential.
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