Different cropping systems regulate the metabolic capabilities and potential ecological functions altered by soil microbiome structure in the plastic shed mono-cropped cucumber rhizosphere

Crop rotation is an ecologically crucial phenomenon for the sustainable development of plastic shed production systems, possibly affecting soil properties and microbiome structure. However, little is known about how soil microbial shifts in cropping system capacity could play a key role in agroecosystem functions under different soil environmental conditions. Here, we examined the high-throughput sequencing of soil microbial community structures and characterized key microbes or ecological functions under environmental changes after seven years of plastic shed cucumber planted soil. The results showed that coriander-cucumber (CC), non-heading Chinese cabbage-cucumber (NCCC), and spinach-cucumber (SC) rotation systems significantly impacted the succession of microbial community structure than fallow-cucumber (FC). In particular, NCCC rotation altered the beneficial soil microbial shift by promoting more antagonistic microbial abundance than leafy lettuce-cucumber (LLC) rotations or FC cropping. Both NCCC and CC rotations have affected mainly the pathways of energy metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. Soil available nitrogen (N) and soil organic matter were the key factors in the succession of bacterial metabolic functions. Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and mycorrhizal taxa were significantly contributed to soil N-cycles (nitrification, nitrate reduction, and N-fixation). Acidobacteria and Ascomycota are potential candidates for hydrocarbon and aromatic compound degradations. The pH-dependent Bacteroidetes in NCCC1 group increased the function of metalloid metabolism and suggested as an indicator of arsenic (As)-rhizoremediation. The functional shift in the soil fungal community under NCCC2 and CC1 groups was primarily related to symbiotrophs, while available potassium and available phosphorus served as significant predictors of fungal functional guilds. The findings indicated that certain cropping systems are crucial for the sustainable development of plastic shed cucumber production by improving the potential capabilities of soil microbial communities to reduce the environmental risk of soil contaminants.

Automated summary

Crop rotation plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of plastic shed cucumber production systems by affecting soil properties and microbiome structure. Specific rotation systems, such as coriander-cucumber and non-heading Chinese cabbage-cucumber, significantly impact microbial community succession and metabolic pathways. Soil available nitrogen and organic matter are key factors in determining bacterial metabolic functions.