Soil pore size distribution shaped not only compositions but also networks of the soil microbial community

Soil pore size and arrangement control the heterogeneous distribution of nutrients, water, air and, therefore, are likely a superimposed integrated factor dictating soil microbial community structure. It is known that with more large pores can potentially harbor diverse microbes under low hydraulic connectivity. Still, there scant information on how (PSD) governs composition association community. This work examined PSD effects compositions networks via marker gene high-throughput sequencing both DNA cDNA. Three soils variation in silt content (~11–73%) their combinations at different mass ratios were used to enhance continuity thus PSD. Investigations made levels total volume connectivity by incubating varied bulk densities moisture contents for 50 days. The six was dichotomized into two groups based water retention curves, PSD-1 macro- mesopores (>30 μm) PSD-2 micropores (<30 μm). Effects treatments fungal bacterial evenness Shannon diversity index group specific, supporting importance regulating diversity. promoted proliferation Betaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Eurotiales, whereas favored Alphaproteobacteria, Sordariomycetes, Chaetothyriales. Pore slightly yet significantly affected relative abundance soils, Actinobacteria being abundant drier conditions. There less intra- interkingdom associations than such differences little Our highlighted PSD-dependent distributions associations, but ecological consequences need be further examined.