16S and nrfA amplicons from long-term field experiments
We hypothesize that cropping systems and management practices that increase soil carbon in relation to soil nitrate content alter niche partitioning between ammonifying and denitrifying communities and thereby improve N-use efficiency in the system. To test this, we selected two long-term field experiments, initially set up to evaluate the effects of cropping systems (annual cereal and short-term ley rotations) and their management (fertilization regimes, retaining the straw in the annual cereal rotations) on soil organic matter in different climate zones across Sweden.