Since fungi and bacteria play major role during the decomposition process, we analyzed silicon (Si) content and water regime as factors affecting microbial structure and diversity. To assess how water regime affects decomposition, we exposed common reed's leaf samples varying in age and originating from two different geographical locations to decomposition process in wet and dry microlocations. Using high throughput sequencing we analyzed microbial structure and diversity and showed that most of the fungal operational taxonomic units (OTU) are saprotrophs (48,6%) belonging to the phylum Ascomycota (95,7%). We showed that the water regime significantly affects microbial diversity. Bacterial diversity increases during the decomposition. Also we displayed positive correlation (R=0,75; p<0,001) between Si content and fungal diversity, which was not the case for bacterial diversity. Results obtained using XRF method showed significant effect of leaf age, geographical location and water regime on Si content. Additionally we showed macronutrient content decrease during the decomposition. On the other side, Fe content increased in samples exposed in wet microlocation while we displayed distinctive pattern of Zn and Mn content between samples from different geographical locations exposed to decomposition in dry microlocation. Using FTIR method we measured sample organic compound content and showed cellulose components decrease in samples exposed to decomposition in wet microlocation. From the aspect of biochemical properties, decomposition was promoted in wet microlocation, which is consistent with higher bacterial diversity.
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