Data from: Stronger dispersal potential of alkaline phosphatase-encoding bacteria ensures higher organic phosphorus mineralization rate

Scientific theory largely neglects linkage between organic phosphorus (Po)
mineralization rate and dispersal potential of alkaline
phosphatase-encoding bacteria (PEB) containing the phoD
gene. Different densities of substrates (i.e., compacted soils,
culture media, and soil aggregates) were prepared and molecular tools were
used to unveil relationship between dispersal potential of PEB and Po
mineralization rate. According to morphological observations and
ecological studies, we found that the stronger dispersal potential of PEB
ensured a higher Po mineralization rate. Higher Po mineralization rates
were found in soil microaggregates than in macroaggregates and silt +
clay, and soil Po mineralization rate was related closely to P fractions
distributed heterogeneously in aggregates. The phoD gene abundance was
notably correlated with Po mineralization rate, and rare PEB mediated Po
mineralization. The Bradyrhizobium as identified genus dominated in
dramatically heterogeneous PEB community, and stochasticity (70.5–89.5%)
affected more on community assemblages of PEB. The PEB showed a stronger
dispersal potential in microaggregates than the other aggregates, as
indicated by weaker community stability, stronger species replacement,
higher migration rate, lower environmental constraint, and broader niche
breadth. Overall, our results emphasize that a stronger dispersal
potential of PEB ensure a higher Po mineralization rate, and these
findings broaden our understanding of how PEB maintain landscape and
function in soils.