Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic Soil

ABSTRACT Nematodes, the most abundant animals on Earth, play a vital role in the soil biosphere by regulating microbial communities and influencing nutrient cycling. However, their grazing impact on soil nitrogen (N) cycling and microbial communities remains insufficiently understood. In this study,...

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Main Authors: Shuo Na, Helen L. Hayden, Ji‐Zheng He, Zi‐Yang He, Reza Ghaderi, Li Bi, Hang‐Wei Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70057
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author Shuo Na
Helen L. Hayden
Ji‐Zheng He
Zi‐Yang He
Reza Ghaderi
Li Bi
Hang‐Wei Hu
author_facet Shuo Na
Helen L. Hayden
Ji‐Zheng He
Zi‐Yang He
Reza Ghaderi
Li Bi
Hang‐Wei Hu
author_sort Shuo Na
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Nematodes, the most abundant animals on Earth, play a vital role in the soil biosphere by regulating microbial communities and influencing nutrient cycling. However, their grazing impact on soil nitrogen (N) cycling and microbial communities remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we addressed this knowledge gap through a microcosm experiment using gamma‐sterilised acidic soil (pH < 4.5), inoculated with either microbial suspension alone or in combination with low or high concentrations of nematodes. Our results revealed that nematodes significantly increased soil NH₄⁺–N content and bacterial abundance, with bacterivorous nematodes increasingly dominating the microcosm environment. This study provides new evidence that bacterivorous nematodes significantly enhance ammonification in acidic soil, with implications for soil N availability and agricultural productivity.
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issn 2767-035X
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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series Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
spelling doaj-art-424d13a6d3d24e5ba03c557b3db00f352025-08-20T03:42:23ZengWileyJournal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment2767-035X2025-03-0141n/an/a10.1002/sae2.70057Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic SoilShuo Na0Helen L. Hayden1Ji‐Zheng He2Zi‐Yang He3Reza Ghaderi4Li Bi5Hang‐Wei Hu6School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaABSTRACT Nematodes, the most abundant animals on Earth, play a vital role in the soil biosphere by regulating microbial communities and influencing nutrient cycling. However, their grazing impact on soil nitrogen (N) cycling and microbial communities remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we addressed this knowledge gap through a microcosm experiment using gamma‐sterilised acidic soil (pH < 4.5), inoculated with either microbial suspension alone or in combination with low or high concentrations of nematodes. Our results revealed that nematodes significantly increased soil NH₄⁺–N content and bacterial abundance, with bacterivorous nematodes increasingly dominating the microcosm environment. This study provides new evidence that bacterivorous nematodes significantly enhance ammonification in acidic soil, with implications for soil N availability and agricultural productivity.https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70057ammonificationbacterivoresfree‐living nematodesN mineralisation
spellingShingle Shuo Na
Helen L. Hayden
Ji‐Zheng He
Zi‐Yang He
Reza Ghaderi
Li Bi
Hang‐Wei Hu
Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic Soil
Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
ammonification
bacterivores
free‐living nematodes
N mineralisation
title Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic Soil
title_full Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic Soil
title_fullStr Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic Soil
title_full_unstemmed Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic Soil
title_short Bacterivorous Nematodes Drive Ammonification and Bacterial Community Growth in a Strongly Acidic Soil
title_sort bacterivorous nematodes drive ammonification and bacterial community growth in a strongly acidic soil
topic ammonification
bacterivores
free‐living nematodes
N mineralisation
url https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70057
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