Plant residues do not have an immediate impact on soil bacterial community composition and abundance

Abstract Plant residues are often used as soil amendments in laboratory experiments, but they can reportedly release compounds interfering with DNA extraction and subsequent molecular biological analyses. Theoretically, for accurate comparison of microbial community composition soils without added plant after a period incubation, no significant difference at the beginning experiment is required between amended unamended control soils. We mixed residue into immediately (within 10 min) commenced extraction, then performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine bacterial abundance. Soil addition served control. Five commonly kits, primer pairs, soils, two types (rice straw alfalfa shoots) three rates (2%, 4%, 6%; w/w) residue, were tested. In all cases, we found measured or abundance treatments residue.