Long-Term Fertilisation Shapes the Distribution and N(2)O Reduction Potential of Clade I and Clade II N(2)O Reducers Along the Soil Profile in Rice Paddies.

Clade I N2O reducers explain more variation in soil N2O reduction potential than Clade II in rice paddies after 20 years of fertilisation.

• Why it matters: Understanding how long-term fertilisation influences N2O-reducing microbial communities is crucial for managing greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies.
• What they did: A 20-year field experiment with unfertilized, chemical, and organic fertiliser treatments was conducted, analyzing Clade I and Clade II N2O reducers through gene and genome assessments.
• The result: Fertilisation increased Clade I abundance, which fully mediated effects on N2O reduction potential, while Clade II showed niche stratification and only partial mediation, indicating distinct ecological roles.