Study of soil- and plant-associated bacterial diversity during early phases of maize leaf litter decomposition

We investigated the different levels of soil- and plant-associated bacterial diversity on the rates of maize leaf litter decomposition, and bacterial community dynamics during its early phases. In this study, we manipulated soil bacterial diversity by autoclaving soils and inoculating the autoclaved soil with an extract of microbes. Our approach substantially reduced bacterial diversity in autoclaved soil (Sterile soil), soil inoculated with diluted inoculum (Soil DI), soil inoculated with undiluted inoculum (Soil UI) compared to the original soil, while no significant differences in bacterial abundance were determined among the different soil treatments after 2 weeks of preincubation (between week -2 and 0). To understand the role of bacterial diversity, mainly during early phases of litter decomposition, maize leaf litter was applied to the different soil treatments and incubated for 6 weeks under a laboratory condition. Soil bacterial diversity and community composition were assessed before and during litter decomposition using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Maize leaf bacterial community composition was assessed in prior to being applied to the soils.