Bacterial alpha-diversity indices among the three differentjhum fallow cycles and rhizosphere niches, root interior, and bulk soil
Broadly, all measures of bacterial alpha-diversity (Observed OTU richness, Faith’s phylogenetic diversity, Shannon index) were greater in 5-year fallow periods than 8-year and 20-years, although the difference was statistically significant only between 5 years and 20 years fallow cycle field samples (Table 2). Among the different niches, LARS showed the greatest alpha diversity followed by SARS, then RI, with BS having the lowest diversity. A similar pattern was shown in the volatility chart (Fig 6). The overall bacterial alpha diversity was greatest in rice, with maize and arahar crops being similar to one another (Table 2).