Long-term straw return with moderate nitrogen levels reshapes soil bacterial communities in a vertisol

The results showed that moderate N application (N450-N540) with straw return optimized wheat (283.5 kg ha^-1) and maize (346.5 kg ha^-1) yields, whereas higher N fertilization (N630, N720) led to soil acidification (pH decline of 0.51-1.67 units), irrespective of straw management. Straw return increased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate (NO₃ ^--N), and available potassium (AK), but decreased ammonium (NH₄ ⁺-N). Bacterial diversity increased at moderate N rates but decreased at higher N rates. Fungal diversity was generally higher under straw removal, with Chaetomiaceae increasing under straw return, whereas Mortierellaceae and Trichocomaceae declined at high N levels. The Mantel test showed a strong correlation between soil pH and bacterial diversity, while fungal composition was influenced by SOC, TN, and NO₃ ^--N. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) demonstrated that N fertilization directly and indirectly increased wheat yield through improved soil properties, while straw return enhanced bacterial diversity, indirectly supported wheat yield. This study highlights the importance of balanced N fertilization and straw incorporation in maintaining bacterial community structure, fertility, and long-term crop productivity in intensive cropping systems on Vertisol.