Aggregate sizes regulate the microbial community patterns in sandy soil profile

Soil microorganisms play a key role in the function of soil ecosystem, yet our knowledge about how microbial communities respond to typically sandy environmental properties along profile is still insufficient. We investigated community patterns from top (0–20 cm) clay-layer (>80 typical soils three regions China with different levels precipitation, including Lishu County Jilin Province (LS), Langfang City Hebei (LF) and Zhengzhou Henan (ZZ). Our findings showed that small-size aggregates (<0.5 mm) rather than large ones (⩾ 0.5 dominated profile. The relative abundances Actinobacteria, Crenarchaeota Firmicutes were highly related aggregate proportions deep soil. network analysis revealed distinct among modules, evidencing niche differentiation keystone species OTU_11292 was observed having migrated clearly into other module Different roles OTU_30 (belonging Gemmatimonadetes) processes might partly explain distribution between top- soils. These provided new insights candidate mechanisms diversity maintenance patterning soils, which necessary for better understanding ecological rules guiding long-term agricultural practice.