Long-term nitrogen and phosphorus additions change community diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and crop yield are mainly determined by Glomus and Paraglomus in the Loess Plateau

Abstract Aims Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form mutualistic symbiosis with more than 80% of plant roots on land, playing an important role in promoting plant growth. Similarly, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition, a common fertilization practice in the Loess Plateau, China, can improve crop yield, and further has an important effect on soil microbial community. However, the potential effects of long-term N and P addition on AMF community structure in farmland system in loess arid region are still unclear. Methods Based on the Changwu Agricultural Ecology Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this study set three N and P concentration gradients: low (0 kg hm− 2), medium (90 kg hm− 2) and high (180 kg hm− 2), and carried out a 3 × 3 complete interaction experiment with 9 treatments, which were CK, N12, N24, P12, N12P12, N24P12, P24, N12P24, N24P24. In this study, we combined high-throughput sequencing technology with traditional biochemical methods to analyze the composition and structural diversity of AMF community. Besides, correlation analysis between AMF community composition, soil environmental factors and crop yield was also preformed. Results Our results showed that AMF community diversity increased significantly under the N and P interaction. The AMF community composition was differentiated by N and P additions across the concentration gradients, driven mostly by the available phosphorus (AP), total phosphorus (TP) and pH as the main environmental factors. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between Glomus and wheat yield, Paraglomus opposite. Conclusions Long-term N and P addition not only directly increased the crop yield, but also affected wheat yield indirectly by affecting soil physicochemical properties and AMF community diversity. Rational N and P application could improve the ecological and physiological functions of AMF community, which was of positive significance for improving crop yield and agricultural sustainable development.