scholarly journals Quantifying nitrogen fixation by heterotrophic bacteria in sinking marine particles

Author(s):  
Subhendu Chakraborty ◽  
Ken Andersen ◽  
Andre Visser ◽  
Keisuke Inomura ◽  
Michael J. Follows ◽  
...  

Abstract Nitrogen (N2) fixation by heterotrophic bacteria associated with sinking particles contributes to marine N cycling, but a mechanistic understanding of its regulation and significance are not available. Here we develop a mathematical model for unicellular heterotrophic bacteria growing on sinking marine particles and can fix N2 under suitable environmental conditions. We find that the interactive effects of polysaccharide and polypeptide concentrations, sinking speed of particles, and surrounding O2 and NO3- concentrations determine the N2 fixation rate inside particles. N2 fixation inside sinking particles is mainly fueled by SO42- respiration rather than NO3- respiration. Our model suggests that anaerobic processes, including heterotrophic N2 fixation, can take place in anoxic microenvironments inside sinking particles even in fully oxygenated marine waters. The modelled rates are similar to bulk rates measured in the aphotic ocean, and our study consequently suggests that particle-associated heterotrophic N2 fixation contributes significantly to oceanic N2 fixation.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Ling ◽  
Tingting Wang ◽  
Yakov Kuzyakov

Abstract Microbial composition and functioning in the rhizosphere are among the most fascinating but hidden topics in microbial ecology. We generalized bacterial traits regarding community diversity, composition and functions using published 16s rDNA amplicon sequences of 584 pairs of bulk soils vs rhizosphere of crops. The lower bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere (-7% richness) compared to root-free soil reflects the excess of available organic substances near the root. The rhizosphere is enriched by Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria as well as other copiotrophic bacteria (r strategists). Complex but unstable bacterial networks in rhizosphere reflect tight microbial interactions and adaptations to fluctuating conditions common for r strategists. The dominant dormancy strategy in the rhizosphere is the toxin-antitoxin system, while sporulation is common in bulk soil. Function prediction analysis showed that the rhizosphere is strongly enriched (50–115%) in methanol oxidation, ureolysis, cellulolysis, chitinolysis and nitrogen fixation, but strongly depleted in functions related to N-cycling.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ágota Horel ◽  
Györgyi Gelybó ◽  
Imre Potyó ◽  
Klára Pokovai ◽  
Zsófia Bakacsi

Research on the use of soil enhancer materials such as biochar from soil chemical perspective still provide differing results; therefore, investigations focusing on soil-biochar-plant interactions are still necessary to constrain our understanding of complex biochar effects. The present study investigated the changes in biological nitrogen fixation rates (BNF) and overall nutrient dynamics (NO3−, NH4+, total N, K2O, and P2O5) during the growth of Capsicum annuum (pepper) in pot experiments amended with biochar made of paper fiber sludge and grain husk. Four treatments were studied with 0, 0.5%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (by weight) added biochar (BC) amount to temperate silt loam soil. Peppers were planted at 2–4 leave stages and grown for the duration of 12.5 weeks. Our results showed that total nitrogen had relatively small changes in all treatments over time compared to the dynamic changes observed in the case of inorganic nutrients. NO3−-N and NH4+-N abundances presented a continuous decrease during the course of the study after an initial increase. The pepper plant facilitated the BNF rates to triple in the control soils, while plants were in the growing phase (weeks 1–6), which further increased an additional 61% by harvesting (week 12). A high amount of biochar addition suppressed potential BNF rates of the investigated soil, indicating its potentially negative effects on soil indigenous microbial communities if added in excess. We also found a plateau in plant biomass production that after reaching an optimal (2.5%) biochar amendment in the soils, and excess biochar addition did not result in significant changes in the soils’ pH to achieve better nutrient (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous) use or crop growth.


1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1285-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Ogan

The potential for nitrogen fixation in the rhizosphere and habitat of natural stands of Zizania aquatica (L) was studied by the acetylene reduction method. The data obtained suggested that this potential exists in the water column, the rhizosphere soil of the wild rice habitat, and on the root surfaces of the plants.In situ determination of rates of nitrogen fixation in the water column showed low but significant levels only in late spring – early summer and the rate was thought to be dependent on the presence of the blue-green algae Aphanizomenon. Laboratory experimental evidence showed that acetylene reduction by rhizosphere surface soil was attributable to Oscillatoria species while bacteria were more active in the subsurface soil and on the root surfaces. The bacteria-mediated nitrogenase activity was often preceded by a long lag period. The heterotrophic bacteria involved were enumerated, isolated, and characterised and they belong to the genera Azotobacter and Clostridium. Algal components of blooms occurring within the stands of Zizania at various times were identified.


mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Xue ◽  
Mengting M. Yuan ◽  
Jianping Xie ◽  
Dejun Li ◽  
Yujia Qin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Clipping (i.e., harvesting aboveground plant biomass) is common in agriculture and for bioenergy production. However, microbial responses to clipping in the context of climate warming are poorly understood. We investigated the interactive effects of grassland warming and clipping on soil properties and plant and microbial communities, in particular, on microbial functional genes. Clipping alone did not change the plant biomass production, but warming and clipping combined increased the C 4 peak biomass by 47% and belowground net primary production by 110%. Clipping alone and in combination with warming decreased the soil carbon input from litter by 81% and 75%, respectively. With less carbon input, the abundances of genes involved in degrading relatively recalcitrant carbon increased by 38% to 137% in response to either clipping or the combined treatment, which could weaken long-term soil carbon stability and trigger positive feedback with respect to warming. Clipping alone also increased the abundance of genes for nitrogen fixation, mineralization, and denitrification by 32% to 39%. Such potentially stimulated nitrogen fixation could help compensate for the 20% decline in soil ammonium levels caused by clipping alone and could contribute to unchanged plant biomass levels. Moreover, clipping tended to interact antagonistically with warming, especially with respect to effects on nitrogen cycling genes, demonstrating that single-factor studies cannot predict multifactorial changes. These results revealed that clipping alone or in combination with warming altered soil and plant properties as well as the abundance and structure of soil microbial functional genes. Aboveground biomass removal for biofuel production needs to be reconsidered, as the long-term soil carbon stability may be weakened. IMPORTANCE Global change involves simultaneous alterations, including those caused by climate warming and land management practices (e.g., clipping). Data on the interactive effects of warming and clipping on ecosystems remain elusive, particularly in microbial ecology. This study found that clipping alters microbial responses to warming and demonstrated the effects of antagonistic interactions between clipping and warming on microbial functional genes. Clipping alone or combined with warming enriched genes degrading relatively recalcitrant carbon, likely reflecting the decreased quantity of soil carbon input from litter, which could weaken long-term soil C stability and trigger positive warming feedback. These results have important implications in assessing and predicting the consequences of global climate change and indicate that the removal of aboveground biomass for biofuel production may need to be reconsidered.


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