Fluctuations in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and the contents of inorganic nitrogen in solarized soil

Solarization makes a great impact on the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and nitrifying activity in soil. To elucidate fluctuations in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and nitrification in solarized soil, copy numbers of <i>amoA</i> gene of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), viable number of ammonia oxidizers and inorganic nitrogen contents were investigated in greenhouse experiments. The copy number of <i>amoA</i> gene and the viable number of ammonia oxidizers were determined by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and most probable number methods, respectively. Abundance of AOB based on the estimation of <i>amoA</i> gene copy numbers and viable counts of ammonia oxidizers was decreased by the solarization treatment and increased during the tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) cultivation period following the solarization. Effect of solarization on the copy number of <i>amoA</i> gene of AOA was less evident than that on AOB. The proportion of nitrate in inorganic nitrogen contents was declined by the solarization and increased during the tomato cultivation period following the solarization. Positive correlations were found between the proportion of nitrate in inorganic nitrogen content and the copy number of bacterial or archaeal <i>amoA</i> gene or the viable number of ammonia oxidizers; the copy number of bacterial <i>amoA</i> gene showed a strong correlation with the viable number of ammonia oxidizers. The present study revealed influences of solarization on the fluctuation in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and dynamics of inorganic nitrogen contents in soil and the results indicate that the determination of <i>amoA</i> gene of AOB is possibly a quick and useful diagnostic technique for evaluating suppression and restoration of nitrification following solarization.