Soil bacteria in a temperate agroforestry system under different fertilization regimes

This study aimed to investigate soil bacteria, fungi, and archaea as well as functional groups of microorganisms involved in soil-N cycling in the topsoil (0 - 30 cm) and subsoil (30 - 60 cm) of a paired alley-cropping agroforestry and open cropland system after four years of regular versus reduced fertilization. To account for spatial heterogeneity within the agroforestry system, soil samples were collected in the tree row as well as at multiple distances (1, 4, 7, and 18 m) from the trees into the crop row.