Abstract
Soil phosphorus (P) is a critical limiting nutrient influencing primary productivity, particularly in agricultural systems. Rhizosphere fungal communities play an important role in nutrient cycling, especially P cycling, and therefore are presumed to respond strongly to soil P levels. This study investigates the influence of soil available P levels on rhizosphere fungal communities of perennial Bahiagrass – one of the most dominant forage grass species in the subtropical climate, emphasizing the relationship between soil P and fungal communities and functional potentials. Our results showed that soil Mehlich-1 P (M-1 P) was the most significant soil factor influencing fungal community composition (beta diversity), followed by total P and the N/P ratio ( P < 0.05). Additionally, the soil N/P ratio emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of fungal alpha diversity at both taxonomic and functional levels. At the functional group level, N/P ratio, pH, and plant P positively influenced fungal functional richness, whereas soil moisture showed a moderate negative relationship. The relative abundance shifts in fungal functional groups, such as decline in Dung Saprotrophs with increasing M1-P levels, indicate potential changes in ecological functions associated with soil P availability. Understanding these relationships can inform management strategies that promote a resilient fungal community and support Bahiagrass-dominated agricultural production systems through best management practices.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Soil Mehlich-1 P was the most significant factor associated with fungal community composition, followed by total P and N/P ratio.
- Taxon
- Bahiagrasst0
- Compound
- soil Mehlich-1 Pe0
- Outcome
- fungal community composition (beta diversity)e0
- Qualifier
- total P and the N/P ratioe0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“soil Mehlich-1 P (M-1 P) was the most significant soil factor influencing fungal community composition (beta diversity), followed by total P and the N/P ratio ( P < 0.05)”
t0“Bahiagrass”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil N/P ratio was the strongest and most consistent predictor of taxonomic and functional fungal alpha diversity.
- Taxon
- Bahiagrasst0
- Compound
- soil N/P ratioe0
- Outcome
- fungal alpha diversity at both taxonomic and functional levelse0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“the soil N/P ratio emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of fungal alpha diversity at both taxonomic and functional levels”
t0“Bahiagrass”
Claim · model-written summary
N/P ratio positively influenced fungal functional richness.
Verbatim
e0“N/P ratio, pH, and plant P positively influenced fungal functional richness”
t0“Bahiagrass”
Claim · model-written summary
pH positively influenced fungal functional richness.
Verbatim
e0“N/P ratio, pH, and plant P positively influenced fungal functional richness”
t0“Bahiagrass”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant P positively influenced fungal functional richness.
Verbatim
e0“N/P ratio, pH, and plant P positively influenced fungal functional richness”
t0“Bahiagrass”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil moisture had a moderate negative relationship with fungal functional richness.
Verbatim
e0“soil moisture showed a moderate negative relationship”
e1“fungal functional richness”
t0“Bahiagrass”
Claim · model-written summary
Dung Saprotroph abundance declined as M1-P increased.
Verbatim
e0“decline in Dung Saprotrophs with increasing M1-P levels”
t0“Bahiagrass”
Claim · model-written summary
The shifts in fungal groups suggest ecological functions may change with soil P availability.
Verbatim
e0“indicate potential changes in ecological functions associated with soil P availability”
t0“Bahiagrass”