Long-term decomposed straw return positively affects the soil microbial community

Aims In order to understand the response of soil microbial communities to the long-term of decomposed straw return, the modifications of soil microbial community structure and composition induced by more than 10 years of fresh and decomposed straw return was investigated and the key environmental factors were analysed. Methods and Results Phospholipid fatty acid analysis and high-through sequencing technique were applied to analyse the structure and composition of the soil microbial communities. Compared with fresh straw, returning decomposed straw increased the relative abundance of bacteria and fungi by 1 center dot 9 and 7 center dot 7% at a rate of similar to 3750 kg ha(-1), and increased by 23 center dot 1 and 5 center dot 7%, at a rate of similar to 7500 kg ha(-1) respectively. The relative abundance of the bacteria related to soil nitrification increased, but the ones related to soil denitrification decreased with decomposed straw return, which led to higher total nitrogen contents in soils. Moreover, returning decomposed straw reduced pathogenic fungal populations (genus of Alternara), which had significantly positive correlation with soil electric conductivity. It indicated that the long-term of decomposed straw return might have lower risk of soil-borne disease mainly for the reasonable soil salinity. Conclusions Long-term of decomposed straw return could provide suitable nutrient and salinity for healthier development of soil microbial community, both in abundance and structure, compared with fresh straw return. Significance and Impact of the Study The results of the study helps to better understand how the microbial community modifications induced by decomposed straw return benefit on soil health. The obtained key factors impacting soil microbial community variations is meaningful in soil health management under conditions of straw return.