Dissecting the combined effects of cultivar, fertilization, and irrigation on rhizosphere bacterial communities and nitrogen productivity in rice

Rice cultivars, fertilizer types, and irrigation modes can affect soil bacterial communities and thus influence nitrogen utilization by soil microorganisms and plants. However, the combined effects of these three factors on soil bacterial communities and nitrogen productivity in rice plants remain unknown. Here, we examined the response of rhizosphere bacteria and nitrogen productivity to different combinations of cultivar (japonica or indica), fertilization (organic plus chemical or chemical), and irrigation (controlled or shallow-frequent). The results demonstrated the interactive effects of cultivars with fertilizers and irrigation on rhizosphere bacterial communities, nitrogen accumulation, and grain yield. These significant interactive effects were related to differences in the response to soil environment (soil inorganic nitrogen concentration and moisture condition) between diverse rhizosphere bacteria recruited by indica and japonica. We found that rhizosphere bacterial communities recruited by indica were more active in soil fertilized with organic plus chemical nitrogen, while those recruited by japonica were suitable for living in soil fertilized with chemical nitrogen. Rhizosphere bacteria diversity positively correlated with soluble inorganic nitrogen in soil, suggesting that more diverse bacterial communities and greater contents of NH 4 + -N might favor nitrogen accumulation in rice plants under shallow-frequent irrigation. The combinations of cultivars, fertilizer types, and irrigation greatly affected rhizosphere bacterial communities, thus triggering a significant difference in soil inorganic nitrogen content, which could play an essential role in affecting nitrogen productivity. • Interactions between cultivars with fertilizers and irrigation were determined. • Bacteria recruited by indica were active in soil fertilized with organic-chemical. • Bacteria recruited by japonica were suitable for living in chemical fertilizer soil. • Bacteria diversity was positively correlated with soluble inorganic nitrogen in soil. • Controlled irrigation may inhibit rhizosphere bacteria due to lower water conditions.