Decomposition of different crop straws and variation in straw-associated microbial communities in a peach orchard, China

Crop residue is a major source of soil organic matter; therefore, application crop straw to contributes the sustainable development agriculture. To better understand transformation in orchard soils, we investigated relationship between characteristics decomposition and functional diversity associated microbial communities long-term peach orchard, China. Mesh bags, each containing 30 g corn or bean straw, were buried at depth 20 cm 12-year-old for 360 d (October 2011–October 2012). Three treatments applied, i.e., fresh with nitrogen fertilizer (urea, 10.34 g/kg), straw. Changes residual rate, water content conditions monitored after treatment. The straw-associated was analyzed by Biolog-Eco microplate assay. During process, rates did not vary considerably from 10 (30.4%–45.4%) (19.0%–30.3%). Irrespective addition, decomposed faster than Corn yielded highest average well color (AWCD) values (1.11–1.67), followed (1.14–1.68) (1.18–1.62). Although AWCD differ significantly among three treatments, substantial differences occurred across various time periods process (P<0.01). In terms carbon utilization, dominant groups fed mainly on saccharides. Hard-to-decompose substances gradually accumulated middle late stages decomposition. Of six categories sources tested, utilization rate aromatics lowest whereas that polymers Among different negatively correlated available phosphorous, potassium temperature (P<0.05), but content. some cases (corn without fertilizer), content, amino acid carboxylic positively species richness evenness (P<0.05). Microbial community respectively dominated aromatic- polymer-metabolizing during this which could reduce stability structure decrease fruit tree orchard.