Higher pH is associated with enhanced co‐occurrence network complexity, stability and nutrient cycling functions in the rice rhizosphere microbiome

Abstract

The rice rhizosphere microbiota is crucial for crop yields and nutrient use efficiency. However, little is known about how co‐occurrence patterns, keystone taxa and functional gene assemblages relate to soil pH in the rice rhizosphere soils. Using shotgun metagenome analysis, the rice rhizosphere microbiome was investigated across 28 rice fields in east‐central China. At higher pH sites, the taxonomic co‐occurrence network of rhizosphere soils was more complex and compact, as defined by higher average degree, graph density and complexity. Network stability was greatest at medium pH (6.5

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