Response of rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure to continuous cultivation of tobacco

Purpose The health of rhizosphere soil microorganisms is an important indicator to evaluate soil quality. Therefore, understanding the response of rhizosphere soil microorganisms to tobacco crop succession is crucial for promoting the sustainable development of agriculture. Methods The microbial diversity and community structure of rhizosphere soil in continuous cropping and non-cropped tobacco for 7 years were analyzed by the Illumina platform. Result (1) Continuous cropping tobacco cause rhizosphere soil acidification and reduction in alkaline nitrogen (AN) and soil organic matter (SOM). (2) Continuous cropping tobacco reduces the diversity of rhizosphere soil microbial communities, increasing harmful functional microorganisms and declining beneficial ones. (3) The abundance of bacteria that perform nitrification and saprophytic fungi in the rhizosphere soil of continuous cropping areas decreases, inhibiting carbon and nitrogen cycling processes. (4) The composition and diversity of the soil rhizosphere microbial community are affected by the imbalance in the physicochemical property of the rhizosphere. Conclusion Continuous cropping tobacco cause rhizosphere soil acidification and nutrient imbalance, and the carbon and nitrogen cycles involved in microorganisms were damaged. Furthermore, the decreased diversity of rhizosphere soil microorganisms and the increased abundance of pathogenic fungi contribute to the continuous cropping obstacles of tobacco.