Seasonal dynamic of the soil prokaryotes, fungi, and protists. Seasonal dynamic of the soil prokaryotes, fungi, and protists

Cropland soils are dynamic microbial habitats subjected to strong physical and chemical changes, as a result of agricultural practice including the cultivation of different crops and soil management. In this study, we aim to depict the dynamic changes of soil microbes including bacteria, archaea, fungi and protists (Cercozoa). Soils were collected at two-week intervals over two years at three neighboring field sites with different soil types (clay vs. loam) and tillage practices (conservative vs. conventional) in Northern Germany. The abundances and compositions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities were assessed by real-time PCR and by PCR-amplicon sequencing from soil DNA, respectively. Prokaryotic diversity was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, fungal diversity by ITS2 and protists by 18S rRNA genes.