Soil microbial communities as potential regulators of N2O sources in highly acidic soils

• Soil pH was a key driver of N2O emission and sources in acidic soils. significantly positively associated with the ratio ITS to 16S. correlated bacterial fungal community composition. Fungi contributed highly tea plantations vegetable fields. Acidic soil is main source global nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. However, mechanism behind high emissions from soils remains knowledge gap. The objective this microcosm incubation study pin-point microbial mechanisms involved production processes For that purpose, isotopic signatures structure composition four samples were examined. results showed acid (pH = 3.51) emitted 89 times more than alkaline 7.95) under same nitrogen (N) inputs. Fungal denitrification caused 16S abundance cumulative tested < 4.5) greater nirK gene lower AOA-amoA, AOB-amoA, nirK, nosZ I II genes. unclassified Aspergillaceae fungi (63.65%) dominated most strongly genus These findings highlight structures, denitrifying particular, shaped by low lead