Globally nitrogen addition alters soil microbial community structure, but has minor effects on soil microbial diversity and richness

Globally increasing nitrogen (N) deposition is recognized as an important regulator of soil microbial commu-nities. However, how N enrichment affects soil microbial diversity, richness and community structure remains unclear at the global scale. Here, by focusing on high-throughput amplicon sequencing data from field experi-ments using N fertilizers only, we conducted a meta-analysis of a global dataset assessing the responses of mi-crobial diversity (Shannon index), richness (Chao1, OTU richness) and community structure to N addition. Our results showed that N addition significantly reduced soil bacterial diversity (-2.3%), and such effect was sig-nificant in cropland (rather than grassland and forest) and with urea addition (rather than ammonium nitrate). However, there was no significant effect of N addition on soil fungal diversity and microbial (bacterial or fungal) richness. Moreover, N addition shifted microbial community structure likely due to the microbial adaptation to N-excess, but had no significant effect on microbial beta-diversity. Model-selection analysis further showed that the change in soil pH was the most important factor regulating the responses of soil bacterial diversity and richness to N addition. Overall, our results contribute to an in-depth understanding of the effects of N addition on soil microbial diversity and community structure in terrestrial ecosystems at the global scale.

Automated summary

Globally increasing nitrogen deposition is recognized as an important regulator of soil microbial communities. Our meta-analysis of a global dataset revealed that N addition significantly reduced soil bacterial diversity, especially in cropland and with urea addition. However, there was no significant effect on fungal diversity or microbial richness. N addition did shift microbial community structure, likely due to microbial adaptation to N-excess, but had no significant effect on beta-diversity. Soil pH was identified as the most important factor regulating the responses of soil bacterial diversity and richness to N addition.