Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Rhizosphere and Endosphere Bacterial Communities of Rice at Different Growth Stages

This study aimed to investigate the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on bacterial community composition and diversity in the rhizosphere and endosphere of rice at different growth stages. Two treatments, N0 (no N application) and N1 (270 kg N ha^-1), were implemented, with samples collected during the jointing, tasseling, and maturity stages. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the structure and composition of bacterial communities associated with Huaidao No. 5 (japonica conventional rice). The findings indicated that root zone location was the primary factor influencing the diversity and composition of rice root-associated bacterial communities. Further analysis revealed that nitrogen fertilizer primarily influenced rhizosphere bacterial diversity, while endosphere bacterial diversity was more significantly affected by growth stages. Rice recruited distinct beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere and endosphere depending on the growth stage. Additionally, the relative abundance of functional genes related to nitrogen metabolism in root-associated bacteria was not significantly influenced by nitrogen application at 270 kg N ha^-1. These findings offer valuable insights into how nitrogen fertilizer affects plant root bacterial communities across different growth stages.