Effect of 46-years of continuous fertilization on soil microbial community structure
This experiment was established in 1972 in the Jura region of Switzerland (930 m, 242'090 / 617'120). The 24 plot experiment, in a split-plot blocked design, included 4 fertilizer treatments and two cutting frequencies. The fertilizer treatments included a non-fertilized control (Cont), 80 kg ha-1 yr-1 P2O5 and 240 kg ha-1 yr-1 K2O (PK), PK and 75 kg ha-1 yr-1 N (NPK, typical N) and PK and 150 kg ha-1 yr-1 N (NNPK, double the typical N). The cutting frequency was either 2 cuts per year, with the first cut being in July (late cut), or 3 cuts per year, with the first cut being in June (early cut). Thus, there were eight fertilizer by cutting frequency combinations (n=3).On the 16th of July 2018, eight soil cores were taken using an auger (diameter 2.5 cm) in a W pattern across the plot, to a depth of 20 cm.