Change in straw decomposition rate and soil microbial community composition after straw addition in different long-term fertilization soils

Abstract Fertilization practices can change soil fertility and biological properties, and influence its ecological functions. We studied the change in the straw decomposition rate and microbial community composition in soils with different long-term fertilization regimes (no-fertilizer control (CK); nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers (NPK); and NPK plus straw (NPKS)) with addition of straw in a 75-day incubation experiment. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates from the straw material were 13.9, 15.8, and 17.9 μg C g−1 soil day−1 in the CK + S, NPK + S, and NPKS + S treatments, respectively. After straw addition, the biomass of fungi and bacteria increase following the order of CK + S ≤ NPK + S