Pyrosequencing and mid-infrared spectroscopy reveal distinct aggregate stratification of soil bacterial communities and organic matter composition

Marko Davinic, Lisa M Fultz, Veronica Acosta-Martinez, Francisco J Calderon, Stephen B Cox, Scot E Dowd, John Zak, Vivien Allen, Jennifer Kucera

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study integrated physical, chemical, and molecular techniques to assess relationships between soil bacterial community structures and the quantity and quality of soil organic carbon (SOC) at the soil microenvironment scale (e.g., within different aggregate size-fractions). To accomplish this goal, soil samples (0e5 cm) were collected from the Texas High Plains region under a variety of dryland and irrigated cropping systems. The soil was separated into macroaggregates, microaggregates, and silt þ clay fractions that were analyzed for (1) bacterial diversity via pyrosequencing of the 16s rRNA gene and (2) SOC quantity and quality using a combustion method and mid-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (mid-IR), respectively. Results from pyrosequencing showed that each soil microenvironment supported a distinct bacterial community. Similarly, mid-IR data revealed distinct spectral features indicating that these fractions were also distinguished by organic and mineral compositio
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)63-72
JournalSoil Biology and Biochemistry
StatePublished - Mar 2012

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