Partial organic substitution increases microbial diversity but has divergent effects on functional microorganisms under various fertilization regimes in an ultisol

Summary

Manure substitution is increasingly acknowledged as a key practice for enhancing soil health in agricultural systems. However, its effects on soil microbial diversity and functional microorganisms vary across soil conditions. This study examined the effects of partial manure substitution on microbial diversity, community composition, and functional gene abundance in soils subjected to various mineral fertilization treatments using metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that partial manure substitution increased archaeal, bacterial, and fungal richness but did not influence functional gene richness. The microbial community structure was significantly altered by manure substitution, with soil pH and available phosphorus as the key variables. The abundance of Firmicutes was consistently i