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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #317824
Title: Phylogenetic changes in soil bacterial communities as CRP land is converted back to cropland

Author
item MOORE-KUCERA, JENNIFER - Texas Tech University
item KAKARLA, MAMATHA - Texas Tech University
item FULTZ, LISA - Louisiana State University
item LI, CHENHUI - Texas Tech University
item Acosta-Martinez, Veronica
item ZAK, JOHN - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Soil Ecology Society Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2015
Publication Date: 6/12/2015
Citation: Moore-Kucera, J., Kakarla, M., Fultz, L., Li, C., Acosta Martinez, V., Zak, J. 2015. Phylogenetic changes in soil bacterial communities as CRP land is converted back to cropland[abstract]. Soil Ecology Society Conference. June 9-12, 2015. Colorado Springs, CO.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We assessed the impacts of conversion of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land to continuous cropland on soil bacterial communities. Soil samples (0-10cm and 10-30cm) were collected from 3 long-term (>20 y) CRP fields and 3 fields recently (within 1-2 y in 2012) converted from CRP (>20 y) to dryland crop production across three counties of the Texas High Plains region during December 2012, 2013, and 2014. Genomic DNA was isolated from the soil samples and V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced on Illumina Miseq platform using dual index sequencing approach. There were no significant changes in bacterial diversity between CRP and croplands in 2012. In 2013, however, phylogenetic diversity was higher in CRP than croplands at 0-10cm and lower in CRP than croplands at 10-30cm. Based on 2012 and 2013 data (2014 data pending), weighted and unweighted UniFrac distances revealed distinct bacterial communities with management and depth. The croplands were associated with higher abundance of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Fibrobacters, TM7, and Bacteroidetes and CRP fields were associated with Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, and Chloroflexi. The bacterial assemblage in the converted CRP fields resembled the community from a long-term cropland in a parallel study. This rapid response indicates the sensitivity of soil microbial communities to land management changes and may lead to the loss of ecological benefits achieved during CRP restoration. The ecological significance of these shifts are being explored via linking composition with nutrient cycling and soil carbon dynamics.