soil bacteria microbial diversity in rice- eel co-culture system

The ecological rice- eel co-culture system is not only beneficial for enhancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture but also plays a crucial role in promoting environmental health. In the present study, based on the long-term positioning trial of rice-eel co-culture system that started from 2016 and sampled in 2023, the effects of reduced nitrogen fertilizer application on soil physico-chemical properties and bacterial community were investigated. Treatments included conventional regular fertilization treatment (RT), rice-eel co-culture system regular fertilization and nitrogen reduction 10%, 30% and 50% fertilization treatments (IT, IT90, IT70, IT50). In conclusion, the rice-eel co-culture system improved soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial environment compared with traditional rice monoculture regular fertilization, and the best soil improvement was achieved with 10% less N fertilizer application.