The aim of this study was to analyze the changes of soil microbial communities stimulated by climate, soil type and vegetation type using a functional gene array. The dataset GSE51592 was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus, including 54 soil samples. Genetic diversity variation of samples under different sites, soil and vegetation types was examined by calculating the percentage of specific gene number in each sample. Furthermore, gene functional categories and microorganism species in samples under different environmental factors were respectively divided. Gene number in samples with cropping was higher than in samples without cropping. When site, soil type and vegetation type were as the sole variable, respectively, the percentage of specific genes in samples from Yingtan, in phaeozem samples and in samples with cropping was higher. Furthermore, the percentage of gene number in organic remediation for phaeozem and cambisol samples was significant at p < 0.05, comparing with that for acrisol samples. At superkingdom level of microorganisms, for the same category, there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between the samples. At phylum level, for the categories of Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria, the percentage of gene number in cambisol samples was significantly higher (p < 0.05). Conversely, in the category of Proteobacteria, the percentage of gene number in phaeozem and acrisol samples was markedly higher (p < 0.05). Microbial diversity of soil was cooperatively driven by climate, soil type and vegetation type.
Keywords: Climate; Functional gene array; Microbial community diversity; Soil type; Vegetation type.