The impact of Brachiaria (Syn. Urocloa) varities on soil properties and microbiome

The Brachiaria sp. (synonymous with Urochloa) is one of Brazil's main grass species used in livestock production. Over the past 40-45 years, the species has become the focus of breeding genetic programs aimed at enhancing its resistance to drought, flooding, and pests, as well as improving its palatability to animals. Despite the significant efforts made towards genetic improvements of this species, there is limited understanding of how these modifications can potentially affect the composition of the soil microbiome and its potential functions, especially those related to the N-cycle. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of four different Brachiaria varieties on the soil archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities, with a particular emphasis on their potential functions related to the nitrogen cycle.