Next Article in Journal
Determination and Sensitivity Analysis of Urban Waterlogging Driving Factors Based on Spatial Analysis Method
Previous Article in Journal
A Study on the Influence of Borrowing on Household Consumption Expenditures: A Layered Comparison from the Perspective of Alleviating Relative Poverty
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Sustainability
Volume 17
Issue 6
10.3390/su17062784
sustainability-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Effects of Planting Cash Crops on the Diversity of Soil Phosphorus-Functional Microbial Structure in Moso Plantations

by
Ronghui Li
1,2,†,
Wenyan Yang
3,†,
Kunyang Zhang
4,†,
Liqun Ding
5,*,
Zhengqian Ye
4,
Xudong Wang
4,* and
Dan Liu
4
1
Quzhou City Beautiful Countryside Construction Center, Quzhou 324000, China
2
Quzhou City Cultivated Land Quality and Ecological Energy Center, Quzhou 324000, China
3
College of Tea Science and Tea Culture, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
4
State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
5
Kaihua County Agricultural and Rural Affairs Bureau, Quzhou 324000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2784; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062784
Submission received: 13 February 2025 / Revised: 7 March 2025 / Accepted: 13 March 2025 / Published: 20 March 2025
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

:
In order to explore the effects of planting two economic crops in Moso plantations on the composition of soil phosphorus-functional microbial community, this study collected soil samples of Persimmon and Tea-oil plantations cultivated on the original bamboo soil for 3 years for comparison. Soil physical and chemical measurements and metagenomic sequencing were used to evaluate the effects of crop cultivation on the diversity of soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms. Results show that (1) Moso forests are converted to different crops after the soil pH values decline, and other physical and chemical properties of soil and microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) content rise. (2) Soil microbial community structure changed with crop planting. The number of phosphorus-functional bacteria in Persimmon soil was higher than Tea-oil and Moso soils, with the total number of phosphorus-functional bacteria and unique phosphorus-functional bacteria in Persimmon soil being the highest. (3) The relative abundance of phoU, phoR, ugpA, ugpB, gcd and ppaC genes was significantly increased, while the abundance of pstA, pstB and pstC genes was decreased by crop replanting. (4) The dominant phosphorus-functional microorganisms under different crop cultivation were closely related to basic soil properties. Bradyrhizobium and Camellia abundances were significantly positively correlated with soil total phosphorus (TP), while Sphingomonas was significantly negatively correlated with soil TP. Soil electrical conductivity (EC), soil total nitrogen (TN) and soil MBP were positively correlated with the ppx–gppA gene. AP, EC and TN were positively correlated with the phoB gene, while TN and MBP were negatively correlated with the phoP gene. These results suggested that land use patterns could directly change soil environmental conditions, thereby affecting phosphorus-functional microbial communities. In conclusion, the conversion of Moso plantations to commercial crops is beneficial for the optimization of the soil system, promoting the activation and release of soil phosphorus to maintain the dynamic balance of soil microbial community.

1. Introduction

Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient essential for the growth, development, and reproduction of plants and soil microorganisms, and plays a key role in basic metabolic processes, including substance synthesis, energy metabolism, and the maintenance of cellular structure and function [1]. The existence of different soil types leads to differences in the basic properties of soil, which affect the content of P in soil [2]. In addition, soil P content is also affected by the structure and function of soil microbial community. Among them, phosphorus-functional microorganisms play a key role in soil phosphorus metabolism, whose main metabolic processes include six pathways: regulation, transport, inorganic phosphorus solubilization, organic phosphorus mineralization, polyphosphate synthesis, and degradation [3]. Previous studies have shown that the structure and function of soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms are comprehensively affected by many factors such as soil environmental factors, plant species, and fertilizer management [2,4]. Phosphorus-functional microorganisms in soil participate in the transformation and utilization of P through a variety of mechanisms, and then affect the absorption and growth of P by plants [5]. These microorganisms reflect the availability of soil P and the P nutritional status of plants in the process of P mineralization, fixation, dissolution, and absorption [6]. Therefore, understanding the activities of soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms have profound implications for agricultural production, as well as for enhancing the understanding of ecosystem nutrient cycling and environmental health.
The widely distributed Moso (Phyllostachys sdulis) ecosystem in subtropical areas is native to China and has been extensively introduced to southern Japan [7]. It has important ecological value in carbon sink function and soil and water conservation due to its rapid growth characteristics [8]. Under the framework of economic cooperation, the regeneration characteristics of bamboo can achieve high fiber yield, thus providing significant economic value [9]. On the other hand, under the multi-dimensional substitution effect and systematic trade-off, cash crops can maintain both economic gain and ecological sustainability through short-cycle returns and scientific management. Driven by economic interests, the large-scale conversion of Moso forests to tea plantations, orchards, and other economic crops is becoming increasingly common. But bamboo forests still have irreplaceable ecological and economic necessity [10]. Studies have shown that changes in land use type can significantly change soil physical and chemical properties and microbial community composition [11]. For example, Wang et al. [12] found that soil P cycling can be regulated by changing land use type and management levels, but there is still a lack of systematic research on the mechanisms through which bamboo forest replanting influence phosphorus-functional microorganisms.
At present, research on phosphorus-functional microorganisms is mostly focused on farmland or forest systems [13,14], while attention to the conversion of bamboo forest ecosystems remains relatively insufficient. In particular, differences in fertilization management and root exudate during the cultivation of cash crops may exert specific selective pressure on host microorganisms responsible for phosphorus metabolism, influencing functional genes such as phoD and phoX by changing key factors such as soil pH and organic matter content [15,16,17]. Such changes in community structure may break the original balance of P cycling and affect the sustainable productivity of soil. Therefore, understanding the responses of phosphorus-functional microbial communities under different cropping patterns is of great scientific significance for guiding the rational use of land resources in subtropical regions.
Previous studies on the conversion of Moso plantations to cash crops mainly focused on basic soil properties, plant growth, and economic benefits. However, studies on the effects of cash crops on the diversity of soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms in Moso plantations are still insufficient. Therefore, we used metagenomic sequencing technology to analyze the community structure of soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms before and after the conversion of Moso plantations to cash crops, and combined it with the analysis of soil basic properties to explore the effects of the conversion to cash crops on the diversity of soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms, and to clarify the response mechanism of soil phosphorus-functional microbial community after the conversion of Moso plantations to cash crops. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing soil management.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Soil Sample Collection

The tested soil was collected from a farm in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, which has a subtropical monsoon climate (northern edge), with warm and humid conditions, abundant rainfall, and distinct four seasons. The average annual temperature is 16.6 °C, and the average annual precipitation is 1830 mm. The soil from Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and Tea-oil (Camellia oleifera Abel) plantations, cultivated continuously for 3 years (Moso was used before planting), was selected. The management modes of Persimmon and Tea-oil were as follows: compound fertilizer (15-15-15) 750 kg/ha per year, spread on the surface layer, and the soil of a nearby Moso plantation was used as the control group.
Three standard plots (20 m × 20 m) were randomly selected in different crop growth areas. Within each plot, sampling was performed using the five-point method. During the collection process, the top 3 mm of soil, including the dead branches and leaves, was first removed. Subsequently, soil was taken from a depth of 0 to 40 cm using a shovel, ensuring that the soil was collected close to the plant roots while removing roots and other impurities. After mixing, rocks and animal or plant debris were removed. The collected soil samples were divided into three parts: one part was quickly packed into sterile sealed bags, temporarily stored in cold ice boxes, and then quickly brought back to the laboratory for soil DNA extraction. The remaining soil samples were divided into two parts: one part was air-dried and then subjected to 2 mm incubation for soil physicochemical properties analysis, and the other part was used as a fresh sample for soil microbial biomass measurement.

2.2. Determination of Basic Soil Properties

Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured in a 1:2.5 (w/v) soil/water suspension using a benchtop pH meter (FE28, Mettler Toledo, Columbus, US) and a conductivity meter (DDSJ-308A, Yantai Stark, Yantai, China), respectively. Soil organic matter (SOM) content was determined by potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid heating method. Total nitrogen (TN) content was determined by the semi-trace Kjeldahl method [18]. The content of total potassium (TK) was determined by a flame photometer after boiling with sulfuric acid and perchloric acid [19]. Soil available phosphorus (AP) was extracted using Bray 1 (HCl 0.025 N and NH4F 0.03 N, pH 3.0) solution and quantified by colorimetric determination at 660 nm (UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) [20]. Microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) content was analyzed by the chloroform fumigation–NaHCO3 leaching method [21]. For each treatment, 3 parallel samples were used for soil property analysis.

2.3. Soil DNA Extraction and High-Throughput Sequencing

Three 0.5 g fresh soil samples were accurately weighed for each treatment, and DNA was extracted using the HiPure Soil DNA Mini Kit (Guangzhou Magen Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China). The extracted DNA was mixed. Subsequently, the integrity and purity of the extracted DNA were assessed by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis, and DNA concentration was accurately quantified using Qubit 4.0. The DNA was fragmented by mechanical interruption (ultrasound), and the fragments that met the quality requirements were screened to construct a library. Next, the DNA Library was amplified using Illumina® NEBNext®Ultra™ DNA Library Prep Kit, and the available concentration of the library (3 nM) was accurately quantified by qPCR. Finally, metagenomic sequencing was sequenced on the Illumina Hi Seq X Ten sequencing platform using the PE150 sequencing strategy of Shanghai Meiji Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.

2.4. Data Analysis

SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s multiple comparison test were used to evaluate the significance of the differences among the treatments (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis (Pearson) and heat map were performed using R 4.2.1, and graphs were drawn using Origin 2019 software.

3. Results

3.1. Analysis of Differences in Soil Properties Under Different Crop Planting

After the Moso plantation was converted to Persimmon and Tea-oil cultivation, soil nutrient contents showed an overall increasing trend. As shown in Table 1, compared with Moso soil, the pH values of Persimmon and Tea-oil soils decreased by 21.00% and 10.63%, respectively. Among them, the change in soil pH of Persimmon was significantly different (p < 0.05). The contents of available phosphorus (AP), electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), and microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) in Persimmon soil were significantly higher than those in Moso soil, which were 1.25–278.31 times higher (p < 0.05). Although the contents of AP, TN and MBP in Tea-oil soil did not reach a significant level compared with Moso soil, these indices still showed a significant increase of 23.07%, 45.26%, and 75.55%, respectively (p > 0.05). At the same time, the electrical conductivity (EC) and total potassium (TK) contents in Tea-oil soil were significantly higher than those in bamboo soil, increasing by 45.63% and 14.88%, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, soil organic matter (SOM) contents of Persimmon and Tea-oil soils were increased; however, there was no significant difference compared with Moso soil.

3.2. Soil Phosphorus-Functional Microbial Community Structure Under Different Crop Cultivation

The changes in soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms under different treatments are shown in Figure 1; it was found that changes in vegetation types will directly affect the number and types of soil microorganisms. The analysis detected 728, 909, and 674 phosphorus-functional bacteria genera in Moso soil, Persimmon soil, and Tea-oil soil samples, respectively (Figure 1a). Among them, Persimmon soil had the most species of P-functional bacteria, while Tea-oil soil had the lowest number. A total of 407 identical P-functional bacteria genera were identified in the three different treatments, which might be the intrinsic flora in Moso soil. Figure 1b shows the column diagram of the top 20 dominant bacterial phyla in each treated soil. In soils with different crops, the dominant phyla with relative abundances greater than 5% included Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, Actinomycetota, Gemmatimonadota, and Chloroflexota. Compared with Moso soil, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria in Persimmon soil was increased by 77.62% and 30.39%, respectively. On the contrary, Actinomycetota and Chloroflexota were decreased by 55.15% and 79.96%, respectively. In Tea-oil and Persimmon soils, the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadota was decreased by 90.50% compared with Moso soil. Figure 1c shows the bar chart of the top 20 dominant bacterial genera with relative abundance in each soil. Bradyrhizobium and Sphingomonas were the dominant genera in soils under different crop cultivation. Compared with Moso soil, the relative abundance of Bradyrhizobium in Persimmon and Tea-oil soils increased, with the relative abundance in Tea-oil soil being significantly increased by 170.30%. However, the abundance of Sphingomonas in Persimmon and Tea-oil soils was significantly decreased by 48.89% and 82.20%, respectively. The study revealed that in Tea-oil soil, the genus Camellia was the sole dominant genus, accounting for 6.94% of the total microbial community. Notably, the genus Candidatus-Acidoferrum was detected exclusively in Moso soil and Tea-oil soil, highlighting the unique characteristics of these two soil types.

3.3. Changes in the Abundance of Soil Phosphorus-Functional Genes Under Different Crop Cultivation

Figure 2 shows the abundance heatmap of dominant phosphorus-functional genes (top 50 abundant genes) predicted based on the KEGG database. The high abundance of different P-functional genes revealed that soil microorganisms were metabolically diverse and active in the P cycle. The phoU and phoR genes were mainly involved in the regulation of inorganic phosphorus. We found that the abundance of the phoU gene was the highest in Tea-oil soil (3.43%), which was 0.20% higher than that in Moso soil. In Moso soil, the phoR gene abundance was the highest, 9.36% higher than that of Persimmon soil and 8.15% higher than that of Tea-oil soil. In the transport system related to phosphorus metabolism, the key genes included ugpA, ugpB, ugpE, pstA, pstB, pstC, pstS, etc. Among them, ugpA, ugpB, and ugpE genes were the most abundant in Persimmon soil. The abundance ratios of pstA, pstB and pstC genes in Moso soil were 2.92%, 4.60% and 3.08%, respectively. The abundance of the pstS gene in Tea-oil soil was the highest, reaching 7.49%. As a key gene for inorganic phosphorus solubilization, the abundance of the gcd gene in the Persimmon soil was the highest, which increased by 7.14% compared with Moso soil. However, in Tea-oil soil, the abundance of the gcd gene decreased by 1.50% compared with Moso soil. In addition, the phoD gene, encoding organic phosphate mineralization, was the most common functional gene in the soil, with the highest abundance in Persimmon soil and the second in Tea-oil soil, and their abundance increased by 2.30% and 0.19%, respectively. In addition, genes related to polyphosphate synthesis (ppaC, ppk1) and degradation (relA, surE, HDDC3, ndk) were most abundant in Persimmon soil.

3.4. Correlation Analysis Between Soil Phosphorus-Functional Microorganisms and Basic Soil Properties Under Different Crop Cultivation

Figure 3a reveals the dominant P-functional bacteria genera under different crops and their correlation with basic soil properties. At the genus level, the abundance of Bradyrhizobium and Camellia was significantly positively correlated with soil TP content, while it was significantly negatively correlated with Sphingomonas. In addition, the abundance of Reyranella, Steroidobacter, and Pseudolabrys was significantly positively correlated with soil pH, SOM, AP, EC, TN, and MBP. These indices were significantly negatively correlated with the abundance of Ktedonobacter, Amycolatopsis and Streptomyces. Further analysis of the correlation between phosphorus-functional genes and soil (Figure 3b) showed that EC, TN and MBP were positively correlated with the ppx–gppA gene, while AP, EC and TN were positively correlated with the phoB gene; TN and MBP were negatively correlated with the phoP gene.

4. Discussion

4.1. The Effects of Changing to Cash Crops on Basic Soil Properties in Moso Plantations

The basic properties of soil are of great significance in maintaining soil productivity and ensuring animal and plant health [22]. Organic matter provides an abundant carbon source and energy for soil microorganisms, which promotes their activity and diversity [23]. In this study, compared with Moso plantations, the soil organic matter content was significantly increased after the conversion to cash crops, indicating that Persimmon and Tea-oil could effectively increase SOM content and improve soil quality. At the same time, the contents of TN and TK also increased after Moso was replanted with different crops, similar to the study by Xue et al. [24], which proved that intercropping with Persimmon trees improved SOM, AN, TP and TK content in apple rhizosphere. The increase in soil TN content can promote plant photosynthesis, improve microbial activity, further enhance carbon input and nitrogen mineralization, and thus improve nitrogen supply in plants [25]. The soil planted with Persimmon showed higher MBP content, which might be related to the dissolution of soil phosphorus by root exudates of Persimmon and the promotion of microbial activity. In addition, it was found in the study that the soil pH value generally showed a downward trend after replanting, which may be due to the secretion of acidic substances by the roots of Persimmon and Tea-oil [16]. The above results indicate that crop replanting can significantly change the biological and chemical properties of soil, but its long-term effects need to be further verified.

4.2. Changes in the Abundance of Phosphate-Functional Flora and Related Genes After the Conversion of Moso Stands to Cash Crops

Soil microorganisms are important participants in soil metabolic activities [26]. By analyzing the number of P-functional bacteria and the abundance of P-functional bacteria under different crop cultivation, we found that the total number and unique number of P-functional bacteria in Persimmon soil were the highest, indicating that the microbial community involved in P cycling in Persimmon soil was the most diverse. In Persimmon soil, Pseudomonadota and Acidobacteriota increased by 77.62% and 30.39%, respectively, compared with Moso soil. A similar trend was observed in Tea-oil soil. These results suggest that the abundance of these dominant bacteria increased after planting cash crops, which is consistent with previous studies [27]. Pseudomonas is a well-known plant growth-promoting bacterium (Siderophores, IAA, NH3, HCN, and P solubilization), and it is involved in bioremediation as well. In addition, Pseudomonas also produces active secondary metabolites, thereby acting against the pesticide, making it a significant biological control agent [28]. Acidobacteria members in plant–soil ecosystems play pivotal ecological roles, including modulation of biogeochemical cycles and influencing plant growth [29]. In contrast, the abundance of Actinomycetota and Chloroflexota in Persimmon soil decreased by 55.15% and 79.96% compared with that of Moso soil. They play a major role in the cycle of organic matter, inhibit the growth of several plant pathogens in the rhizosphere, break down complex polymer mixtures in dead plant, animal and fungal matters, and produce many extracellular enzymes [30]. Their decline could mean that soil ecosystems are less buffered against environmental stress and more vulnerable to outside disturbances. The relative abundance of Gemmatimonadota in Tea-oil soil also showed a decreasing trend compared with that in Moso soil, decreasing significantly by 90.50%. Interestingly, it was found that Camellia was a unique dominant bacterium in Tea-oil soil, and Candidatus-Acidoferrum was a unique dominant bacterium in Moso soil and Tea-oil soil. This reflects the high adaptability of these microorganisms to specific soil environments and their key role in soil nutrient cycling and soil structure improvement. These microorganisms could promote the growth of Persimmon by improving the availability of phosphorus. As the core of the soil P transformation process, the expression of functional genes of the P cycle is the most direct quantitative indicator to evaluate the intensity of each component of the P cycle [31]. In this study, it was found that phoU, pstS and other genes were the most abundant in Tea-oil soil. phoU is a multifunctional regulator of microbial signal transduction and homeostasis and plays an important role in coordinating Pi transport and counter-ion regulation, controlling polyphosphate accumulation, and regulating secondary metabolite biosynthesis and DNA repair [32]. The transport genes ugpA, ugpB, ugpE, gcd and phoD had the highest abundance in Persimmon soil. Among them, ugpA, ugpB and ugpE, as transport genes, play an active role in the process of soil phosphorus assimilation. phoD gene is usually used as a biomarker of organic phosphate mineralization, and the mechanism of soil organic phosphate mineralization controlled by microorganisms carrying the phoD gene through alkaline phosphatase has been confirmed [21,33]. In addition, the content of dissolved inorganic phosphorus gene gcd in the soil of Persimmon trees increased significantly, indicating that Persimmon trees may have a high demand for phosphorus and soil microorganisms respond to crop demand for phosphorus by increasing the expression of the gcd gene, thereby promoting the absorption and utilization of phosphorus [34]. However, the relative abundances of pstA, pstB, pstC, and pstS genes decreased after the change to Persimmon and Tea-oil species. The decrease in relative abundances of pst genes may reflect the adaptation of microbial communities to environmental changes [35].

4.3. Correlation Analysis Between Basic Soil Properties and Phosphorus-Functional Microorganisms After Moso Plantation Was Replanted with Cash Crops

As a key component of the soil ecosystem, soil microorganisms play an important role in the cycling of soil nutrients and the decomposition of organic matter [36]. At the same time, soil moisture content and pH can significantly affect the composition and diversity of soil flora, and play an important role in the recycling of soil nutrients and the decomposition of organic matter [37]. Microbial biomass phosphorus is an important form of soil organic phosphorus, which covers the intracellular phosphorus content of all living microorganisms in soil [38]. We found that the P content of soil microbial biomass was closely related to the type of crops planted after the change to cash crops. Among them, the soil MBP content of Persimmon trees was the highest, which might be due to the developed root system of Persimmon trees, which was conducive to the attachment and growth of microorganisms, thus promoting the increase of microbial biomass. The content of soil P fractions is not only related to the basic properties of soil but also affected by the structure and function of soil microbial community [39]. The results showed that the abundances of Bradyrhizobium and Camellia were positively correlated with TP content in soil. Bradyrhizobium is a kind of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but previous studies have shown that an optimal phosphorus level is needed to effectively fix nitrogen and increase yield, making Bradyrhizobium closely related to the phosphorus content in soil [40]. In addition, the abundance of Reyranella, Steroidter and Pseudolabrys was significantly positively correlated with soil pH, SOM, AP, EC, TN and MBP indices, while Amycolatopsis was significantly negatively correlated with these soil indices, with the highest relative abundance in the control soil and the lowest abundance in Persimmon soil. Amycolatopsis is widely distributed in soil [41] and can activate insoluble phosphorus in soil by secreting phosphatase, thereby promoting the recycling and reuse of nutrients. In the analysis of the correlation between phosphorus-functional genes and soil, it was found that EC, TN, MBP were significantly positively correlated with the ppx-gppA gene, while AP, EC, TN were significantly positively correlated with the phoB gene, and TN and MBP were significantly negatively correlated with the phoP gene. It shows that land use change can affect the diversity of microbial communities by changing vegetation characteristics and soil properties [42]. In this study, with the conversion of Moso plantation to different crops, the functional microbial communities in soil related to P cycling changed in abundance and composition. These microorganisms are crucial in regulating nutrient storage and transformation [43]. Environmental factors can change the potential of soil microorganisms involved in soil P cycling by regulating the expression of different P cycling functional genes [44]. In addition, soil biodiversity can enhance the versatility of ecosystems [45]. Although not all land use changes will affect microbial diversity, they significantly alter the structure of microbial communities [46].

5. Conclusions

This study focused on the effects of cash crops on the diversity of soil phosphorus-functional microbial structure in Moso bamboo plantations. The results showed that (1) basic soil properties were significantly improved after the replanting of Persimmon and Tea-oil plantations, and the degree of nutrient improvement in Persimmon trees was better than Tea-oil plantations, but pH decreased. (2) The planting of different types of crops affected the structure of soil phosphorus-functional microbial communities, among which Persimmon soil had the most abundant bacterial species. (3) Planting cash crops promoted the expression of microorganisms and functional genes in soil phosphorus metabolism pathways. (4) There was a significant correlation between soil physicochemistry and phosphorus-functional microorganisms and genes. For example, the abundance of Reyranella was positively correlated with soil pH, SOC, AP, EC, TN and MBP, while the abundance of Amycolatopsis was significantly negatively correlated with these properties. EC, TN and MBP were positively correlated with the ppx–gppA gene; AP, EC and TN were positively correlated with the phoB gene, while TN and MBP were negatively correlated with the phoP gene. In conclusion, the conversion of Moso plantation to cash crops not only changed vegetation types but also significantly affected the transformation of basic soil properties and phosphorus function. These differences may be closely related to the adaptability of different crops to soil environment and their influencing mechanisms.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, X.W. and L.D.; methodology, R.L.; software, W.Y.; validation, K.Z.; formal analysis, W.Y.; investigation, R.L.; resources, D.L.; data curation, K.Z.; writing—original draft preparation, R.L., W.Y. and K.Z.; writing—review and editing, L.D. and X.W.; visualization, Z.Y.; supervision, D.L.; project administration, D.L.; funding acquisition, D.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD1902900).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Wang, C.; Xue, L.; Jiao, R. Soil phosphorus fractions, phosphatase activity, and the abundance of phoC and phoD genes vary with planting density in subtropical Chinese fir plantations. Soil Tillage Res. 2021, 209, 104946. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Liu, C.; Jin, Y.; Liu, C.; Tang, J.; Wang, Q.; Xu, M. Phosphorous fractions in soils of rubber-based agroforestry systems: Influence of season, management and stand age. Sci. Total. Environ. 2018, 616–617, 1576–1588. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Ai, S.; Chen, J.; Gao, D.; Ai, Y. Distribution patterns and drivers of artificial soil bacterial community on cut-slopes in alpine mountain area of southwest China. CATENA 2020, 194, 104695. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Qiang, W.; Yang, B.; Liu, Y.; Qi, K.; Yang, T.; Pang, X. Effects of reclamation age on soil microbial communities and enzymatic activities in the sloping citrus orchards of southwestern China. Appl. Soil Ecol. 2020, 152, 103566. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Pang, F.; Li, Q.; Solanki, M.K.; Wang, Z.; Xing, Y.-X.; Dong, D.-F. Soil phosphorus transformation and plant uptake driven by phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. Front. Microbiol. 2024, 15, 1383813. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Khan, M.S.; Zaidi, A.; Wani, P.A. Role of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms in sustainable agriculture—A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 2007, 27, 29–43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Han, J.; Xia, D.; Li, L.; Sun, L.; Yang, K.; Zhang, L. Diversity of Culturable Bacteria Isolated from Root Domains of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). Microb. Ecol. 2009, 58, 363–373. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Song, X.; Zhou, G.; Jiang, H.; Yu, S.; Fu, J.; Li, W.; Wang, W.; Ma, Z.; Peng, C. Carbon sequestration by Chinese bamboo forests and their ecological benefits: Assessment of potential, problems, and future challenges. Environ. Rev. 2011, 19, 418–428. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Amede, E.A.; Hailemariam, E.K.; Hailemariam, L.M.; Nuramo, D.A. Identification of factors on the possibility of bamboo as a scaffolding and a formwork material in Ethiopia. Cogent Eng. 2022, 9, 2051692. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Alamerew, A.N.; Zhu, Z.; Kozak, R.; Shrestha, A.K.; Agdew, S.; Wang, G. Exploring the shift to bamboo alternatives: A Case Study on wood and plastic replacement in Ethiopia. J. Clean. Prod. 2025, 486, 144507. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Yang, Y.; Wang, W.; Hu, Q.; Yao, X.; Yang, W.; Wen, S.; Wu, H.; Jin, J.; Shen, L. Conversion of coastal wetlands to paddy fields substantially decreases methane oxidation potential and methanotrophic abundance on the eastern coast of China. Water Res. 2025, 272, 122962. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Wang, Z.; Li, F.; Liu, L.; Yang, K. Changes in soil phosphorus fractions under different land uses in desert grasslands in northwestern China. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 2022, 73, e13255. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Qin, L.; Jiang, M.; Freeman, C.; Zou, Y.; Gao, C.; Tian, W.; Wang, G. Agricultural land use regulates the fate of soil phosphorus fractions following the reclamation of wetlands. Sci. Total. Environ. 2023, 863, 160891. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Xu, S.; Gu, C.; Rodrigues, J.L.M.; Li, C.; Bohannan, B.; Nüsslein, K.; Margenot, A.J. Soil phosphorus cycling across a 100-year deforestation chronosequence in the Amazon rainforest. Glob. Change Biol. 2024, 30, e17077. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Poirier, Y.; Jaskolowski, A.; Clúa, J. Phosphate acquisition and metabolism in plants. Curr. Biol. 2022, 32, R623–R629. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Shi, S.; Richardson, A.E.; O’Callaghan, M.; DeAngelis, K.M.; Jones, E.E.; Stewart, A.; Firestone, M.K.; Condron, L.M. Effects of selected root exudate components on soil bacterial communities: Root exudate components and soil microbial communities. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 2011, 77, 600–610. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Wang, H.; Chen, J.; Ruan, Y.; Sun, W.; Wang, S.; Wang, H.; Zhang, Y.; Guo, J.; Wang, Y.; Guo, H.; et al. Metagenomes reveal the effect of crop rotation systems on phosphorus cycling functional genes and soil phosphorus avail–ability. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2024, 364, 108886. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Yang, Y.; Gunina, A.; Cheng, H.; Liu, L.; Wang, B.; Dou, Y.; Wang, Y.; Liang, C.; An, S.; Chang, S.X. Unlocking Mechanisms for Soil Organic Matter Accumulation: Carbon Use Efficiency and Microbial Necromass as the Keys. Glob.Change Biol. 2025, 31, e70033. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Veloso, F.R.; Marques, D.J.; de Melo, E.I.; Bianchini, H.C.; Maciel, G.M.; de Melo, A.C. Different soil textures can interfere with phosphorus availability and acid phosphatase activity in soybean. Soil Tillage Res. 2023, 234, 105842. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Singh, A.K.; Liu, W.; Zhu, X.; Chen, C.; Khan, M.N.; Yang, B.; Jiang, X.J. The detrimental effect of rainforest conversion to rubber plantations on soil dissolved organic carbon and C: N stoichiometry, mediated by altered soil biogeochemistry. J. Environ. Manag. 2024, 370, 122965. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Zhi, R.; Deng, J.; Xu, Y.; Xu, M.; Zhang, S.; Han, X.; Yang, G.; Ren, C. Altered microbial P cycling genes drive P availability in soil after afforestation. J. Environ. Manag. 2023, 328, 116998. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Wang, X.; Cheng, L.; Xiong, C.; Whalley, W.R.; Miller, A.J.; Rengel, Z.; Zhang, F.; Shen, J. Understanding plant–soil interactions underpins enhanced sustainability of crop production. Trends Plant Sci. 2024, 29, 1181–1190. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Jia, J.; Zhang, J.; Li, Y.; Koziol, L.; Podzikowski, L.; Delgado-Baquerizo, M.; Wang, G.; Zhang, J. Relationships between soil biodiversity and multifunctionality in croplands depend on salinity and organic matter. Geoderma 2023, 429, 116273. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Xue, X.; Chen, R.; Xu, C.; Zhang, C.; Dong, L.; Zhao, X.; Wang, X. Apple-marigold intercropping improves soil properties by changing soil metabolomics and bacterial community structures. Front. Microbiol. 2023, 14, 1195985. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Malewski, T.; Borowik, P.; Golińska, P.; Okorski, A.; Olejarski, I.; Oszako, T. Organic Inputs Positively Alter the Bacteriome of Post-Agricultural Soils. Forests 2023, 14, 1711. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Song, Y.; Li, X.; Yao, S.; Yang, X.; Jiang, X. Correlations between soil metabolomics and bacterial community structures in the pepper rhizosphere under plastic greenhouse cultivation. Sci. Total. Environ. 2020, 728, 138439. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Li, H.; Luo, L.; Tang, B.; Guo, H.; Cao, Z.; Zeng, Q.; Chen, S.; Chen, Z. Dynamic changes of rhizosphere soil bacterial community and nutrients in cadmium polluted soils with soybean-corn intercropping. BMC Microbiol. 2022, 22, 57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Misra, P.; Archana; Uniyal, S.; Srivastava, A.K. Pseudomonas for sustainable agricultural ecosystem. In Microbial Syntrophy-Mediated Eco-Enterprising; Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2022; pp. 209–223. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Kalam, S.; Basu, A.; Ahmad, I.; Sayyed, R.Z.; El-Enshasy, H.A.; Dailin, D.J.; Suriani, N.L. Recent Understanding of Soil Acidobacteria and Their Ecological Significance: A Critical Review. Front. Microbiol. 2020, 11, 580024. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Bhatti, A.A.; Haq, S.; Bhat, R.A. Actinomycetes benefaction role in soil and plant health. Microb. Pathog. 2017, 111, 458–467. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Wang, X.; Guo, H.; Wang, J.; He, P.; Kuzyakov, Y.; Ma, M.; Ling, N. Microbial phosphorus-cycling genes in soil under global change. Glob. Change Biol. 2024, 30, e17281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Baek, S.; Lee, E.-J. PhoU: A multifaceted regulator in microbial signaling and homeostasis. Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 2024, 77, 102401. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Dai, Z.; Liu, G.; Chen, H.; Chen, C.; Wang, J.; Ai, S.; Wei, D.; Li, D.; Ma, B.; Tang, C.; et al. Long-term nutrient inputs shift soil microbial functional profiles of phosphorus cycling in diverse agroecosystems. ISME J. 2020, 14, 757–770. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  34. Wu, X.; Rensing, C.; Han, D.; Xiao, K.-Q.; Dai, Y.; Tang, Z.; Liesack, W.; Peng, J.; Cui, Z.; Zhang, F. Genome-Resolved Metagenomics Reveals Distinct Phosphorus Acquisition Strategies between Soil Microbiomes. mSystems 2022, 7, e0110721. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  35. Hu, M.; Le, Y.; Sardans, J.; Yan, R.; Zhong, Y.; Sun, D.; Tong, C.; Peñuelas, J. Moderate salinity improves the availability of soil P by regulating P-cycling microbial communities in coastal wetlands. Glob. Change Biol. 2023, 29, 276–288. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Dai, Z.; Xiong, X.; Zhu, H.; Xu, H.; Leng, P.; Li, J.; Tang, C.; Xu, J. Association of biochar properties with changes in soil bacterial, fungal and fauna communities and nutrient cycling processes. Biochar 2021, 3, 239–254. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Chen, J.; Zhao, G.; Wei, Y.; Dong, Y.; Hou, L.; Jiao, R. Isolation and screening of multifunctional phosphate solubilizing bacteria and its growth-promoting effect on Chinese fir seedlings. Sci. Rep. 2021, 11, 9081. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Peng, Y.; Duan, Y.; Huo, W.; Zhang, Z.; Huang, D.; Xu, M.; Wang, X.; Yang, X.; Wang, B.; Kuzyakov, Y.; et al. C:P stoichiometric imbalance between soil and microorganisms drives microbial phosphorus turnover in the rhizosphere. Biol. Fertil. Soils 2022, 58, 421–433. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Schwalb, S.A.; Hemkemeyer, M.; Christensen, B.T.; Heinze, S.; Oliva, R.L.; Joergensen, R.G.; Wichern, F. Disentangling the effects of mineral fertiliser N, P and K on microbial biomass, necromass and ionome in soil from the Askov long-term field experiment. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2024, 195, 109449. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Mirriam, A.; Mugwe, J.; Nasar, J.; Kisaka, O.; Ranjan, S.; Gitari, H. Role of Phosphorus and Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium in Enhancing Soybean Production. Adv. Agric. 2023, 2023, 3231623. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Kisil, O.V.; Efimenko, T.A.; Efremenkova, O.V. Looking Back to Amycolatopsis: History of the Antibiotic Discovery and Future Prospects. Antibiotics 2021, 10, 1254. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Bargali, S.S.; Padalia, K.; Bargali, K. Effects of tree fostering on soil health and microbial biomass under different land use systems in the Central Himalayas. Land Degrad. Dev. 2019, 30, 1984–1998. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Padalia, K.; Bargali, S.S.; Bargali, K.; Manral, V. Soil microbial biomass phosphorus under different land use systems of Central Himalaya. Trop. Ecol. 2022, 63, 30–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Sousa, V.R.; Zago, L.M.S.; Ramalho, W.P.; Caramori, S.S. What Physical Aspects Influence Biochemical Activity in Soil in a Natural Landscape? Front. J. Soc. Technol. Environ. Sci. 2020, 9, 142–154. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Garland, G.; Banerjee, S.; Edlinger, A.; Oliveira, E.M.; Herzog, C.; Wittwer, R.; Philippot, L.; Maestre, F.T.; van der Heijden, M.G.A. A closer look at the functions behind ecosystem multifunctionality: A review. J. Ecol. 2021, 109, 600–613. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Yang, Y.; Chai, Y.; Xie, H.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, Z.; Yang, X.; Hao, S.; Gai, J.; Chen, Y. Responses of soil microbial diversity, network complexity and multifunctionality to three land-use changes. Sci. Total. Environ. 2023, 859, 160255. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Sustainability 17 02784 g001
Figure 1. Changes in soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms under different crops. (a) Venn map of the number of phosphorus functional; (b) bacterial abundance on the phylum level; (c) bacterial abundance on the genus level.
Figure 1. Changes in soil phosphorus-functional microorganisms under different crops. (a) Venn map of the number of phosphorus functional; (b) bacterial abundance on the phylum level; (c) bacterial abundance on the genus level.
Sustainability 17 02784 g001
Sustainability 17 02784 g002
Figure 2. Abundance heat maps of dominant phosphorus-functional genes under different crops.
Figure 2. Abundance heat maps of dominant phosphorus-functional genes under different crops.
Sustainability 17 02784 g002
Sustainability 17 02784 g003
Figure 3. Heat map of correlation analysis between (a) dominant phosphorus-functional bacteria and (b) dominant functional genes and basic soil properties under different crop cultivation. Note: SOM = soil organic matter; AP = available phosphorus; EC = electrical conductivity; TN = total nitrogen; TK = total potassium; MBP = microbial biomass phosphorus. *** p < 0.001. r.abs = Absolabsolute value of the correlation coefficient (Pearson’s r). The block size in the figure indicates the magnitude of the absolute value (r.abs) of Pearson’s correlation coefficient (Pearson’s r).
Figure 3. Heat map of correlation analysis between (a) dominant phosphorus-functional bacteria and (b) dominant functional genes and basic soil properties under different crop cultivation. Note: SOM = soil organic matter; AP = available phosphorus; EC = electrical conductivity; TN = total nitrogen; TK = total potassium; MBP = microbial biomass phosphorus. *** p < 0.001. r.abs = Absolabsolute value of the correlation coefficient (Pearson’s r). The block size in the figure indicates the magnitude of the absolute value (r.abs) of Pearson’s correlation coefficient (Pearson’s r).
Sustainability 17 02784 g003
Table 1. Physical and chemical properties in each soil sample.
Table 1. Physical and chemical properties in each soil sample.
SamplepHSOM
(g·kg−1)		AP
(mg·kg−1)		EC
(μs·cm−1)		TN
(g·kg−1)		TK
(g·kg−1)		MBP
(mg·kg−1)
Moso6.49 ± 0.02 a12.68 ± 0.70 a0.13 ± 0.05 b16.63 ± 0.40 c0.95 ± 0.05 b18.41 ± 0.48 b0.45 ± 0.11 b
Persimmon5.13 ± 0.02 c18.05 ± 4.87 a35.73 ± 0.75 a89.64 ± 1.71 a3.90 ± 0.12 a19.49 ± 0.47 b2.43 ± 0.31 a
Tea-oil5.80 ± 0.06 a16.48 ± 0.55 a0.16 ± 0.04 b24.22 ± 1.54 b1.38 ± 0.05 b21.15 ± 0.49 a0.79 ± 0.08 b
Note: SOM = soil organic matter; AP = available phosphorus; EC = electrical conductivity; TN = total nitrogen; TK = total potassium; MBP = microbial biomass phosphorus. Data represent the mean ± standard deviation in the table. The same letter of the same column of data indicates no significant difference (p > 0.05), while different letters indicate significant difference (p < 0.05).
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Li, R.; Yang, W.; Zhang, K.; Ding, L.; Ye, Z.; Wang, X.; Liu, D. Effects of Planting Cash Crops on the Diversity of Soil Phosphorus-Functional Microbial Structure in Moso Plantations. Sustainability 2025, 17, 2784. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062784

AMA Style

Li R, Yang W, Zhang K, Ding L, Ye Z, Wang X, Liu D. Effects of Planting Cash Crops on the Diversity of Soil Phosphorus-Functional Microbial Structure in Moso Plantations. Sustainability. 2025; 17(6):2784. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062784

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Ronghui, Wenyan Yang, Kunyang Zhang, Liqun Ding, Zhengqian Ye, Xudong Wang, and Dan Liu. 2025. "Effects of Planting Cash Crops on the Diversity of Soil Phosphorus-Functional Microbial Structure in Moso Plantations" Sustainability 17, no. 6: 2784. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062784

APA Style

Li, R., Yang, W., Zhang, K., Ding, L., Ye, Z., Wang, X., & Liu, D. (2025). Effects of Planting Cash Crops on the Diversity of Soil Phosphorus-Functional Microbial Structure in Moso Plantations. Sustainability, 17(6), 2784. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062784

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop