Large-scale homogenization of soil bacterial communities in response to agricultural practices in paddy fields, China
Cite this dataset
Wang, Hang et al. (2021). Large-scale homogenization of soil bacterial communities in response to agricultural practices in paddy fields, China [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.931zcrjgz
Abstract
The study was conducted across a 4,000-km transect of China’s rice-growing areas, from Heilong Jiang province to Yunnan province (100°55′ E to 134°08′° E, 22°46′ N to 48°02′ N, Table S1). Four typical rice-growing regions were selected along this transect: Sanjiang Plain (modern mechanical farming), Taihu Plain (mechanical plus minor manual farming), Lianghu Plain (manual plus minor mechanical farming), and Hani Terrace (traditional manual farming).
Field sampling was conducted during July and August in 2014 and 2015. Soil samples were collected from 178 flooded paddy fields and 79 surrounding non-paddy areas across four typical rice-growing regions of China. At each site, one homogenized sample was obtained, which was then separated into two parts. One part, which was obtained for DNA extraction, was placed into a sterile plastic tube then immediately placed in liquid nitrogen for short-term transportation. After shipping to the laboratory, these tubes were stored at −80 °C. The second part of the soil sample was placed into a plastic bag and stored at 4.0 °C for determining the soil physicochemical properties.
Main results of the experiments are that: (1) Distance–decay patterns of bacterial communities in paddy fields revealed reduced β-diversity compared to surrounding natural habitats. (2) Modern rice farming practices (plowing with machines) caused stronger homogenization of soil bacterial communities than traditional farming (plowing by hand). Among the four paddy regions, plowing by hand retained the highest soil bacterial β-diversity. (3) Moreover, a significant inverse correlation was observed between bacterial β-diversity and the agricultural mechanization level. (4) Among multiple environmental factors, dramatic spatial homogenization of soil physicochemical properties, particularly soil nutrient contents, and reduced dispersal limitation caused by modern farming activities both strongly predict a reduction of bacterial β-diversity in modern paddy fields.
Methods
Across a 4000 km transect of China, we collected a total of 257 samples from four typical rice-growing regions. These regions follow a rice cultivation management gradient from modern mechanical to traditional manual practices. We examined distance decay patterns of soil bacterial communities regionally and continentally. With more than 50 environmental factors determined, we then used multiple statistical tools to unveil mechanisms underlying such patterns.
Usage notes
Sample ID and geographic location.xlsx
The longitude (long) and latitude (lat) coordinates for a total of 257 soil samples taken across four rice-growing regions, China.
Studied environmental factors.xlsx
All studied environmental variables and their measured/determined values, including 19 climate variables, 26 plant-soil variables, and 9 landscape/topography variables.
Long: longitude
Lat: latitude
AMT: Annual mean temperature
MDR: Mean diurnal range
ISO: Isothermal sex
TSEA: Temperature Seasonality
MAXTWM: Max Temperature of Warmest Month
MINTCM: Min Temperature of Coldest Month
TRANGE: Temperature Annual Range
TWETQ: Mean Temperature of Wettest Quarter
TDQ: Mean Temperature of Driest Quarter
TWARQ: Mean Temperature of Warmest Quarter
TCQ: Mean Temperature of Coldest Quarter
AP: Annual Precipitation
PWETM: Precipitation of Wettest Month
PDM: Precipitation of Driest Month
PSEA: Precipitation Seasonality
PWETQ: Precipitation of Wettest Quarter
PDQ: Precipitation of Driest Quarter
PWARQ: Precipitation of Warmest Quarter
PCQ: Precipitation of Coldest Quarter
TC: Total carbon
TN: Total nitrogen
TP: Total phosphorus
Olsen-P: Olsen-phosphorus
C_N: Ratio of carbon and nitrogen
C_P: Ratio of carbon and phosphorus
N_P: Ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus
TK: Total potassium
Ca: Total calcium
Mg: Total magnesium
S: Sulfur
Fe: Iron
Mn: Manganese
K+: exchangeable potassium
Ca2+: exchangeable calcium
Mg2+: exchangeable magnesium
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 41673081
Joint Agricultural Projects of Yunnan Province, Award: Grant No. 2017FG001-018
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 41877346
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 41373074