Rhizosphere, bulk soil, and tea-associated bacterial community response to long-term (15 yrs) nutrient additions

Plant and soil microbial communities interact within the soil but indirect nutrient enrichment of soils from human activities can impact these interactions. Using targeted 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing we investigate how long-term nutrient enrichment changes soil bacterial communities associated with different plant functional types (forb, grass). We also examine decomposition rates and bacterial community structure of two tea litters with differing C:N ratios. This study highlights how long-term fertilization of wetlands could alter the composition and function of bulk soil and rhizosphere bacterial communities.