Temporal fluctuations of microbial communities within the crop growing season

Soil microbial communities maintain many ecosystem functions including decomposition and symbiotic nutrient uptake. Prior field studies have focused on either geospatial or relatively large-time scale trends in these communities. Whereas, their small-time (e.g., weekly) dynamics agricultural fields largely been overlooked. Our objective was to determine the effects characteristics of short-time scales five phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) groups throughout whole growing season, while under two soil disturbance levels. The community included total abundance (TMA), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), fungi, actinomycetes, bacteria. fungal bacterial ratio (F:B) also determined. Soils were sampled twice per week from planting harvest during consecutive seasons (N = 62) analyzed for abundances chemical physical properties. study conducted at an on-farm site with a corn [Zea mays] – soybean [Glycine max] wheat [Triticum aestivum] rotation levels [high (chisel plow) low (shallow vertical till)] using randomized complete block design. Data analysis 1) spatial temporal coefficients variations, 2) mixed linear model test time level effects, 3) Fourier detect characterize cyclical patterns via autocorrelation spectral densities. cross densities phase lags large suite chemical, physical, weather states. Temporal variations one threefold greater than variations. Significant observed TMA, AMF, bacteria, where behaved as sine consine over time. However, strong above white noise experimental plots all each season. Cross indicated that bacteria actinomycetes tended cycle short long periods (biweekly season) associated states, whereas F:B cycles (bimonthly These setting clearly undergo small some modulations levels, fertilization, microtopography. Further research cross-correlated is warranted magnitude influence services crop productivity.