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Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2023) | Viewed by 24341

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yujing Yang

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Interests: carbon cycle; soil microbe; soil aggregate; soil nutrient; forest restoration; forest ecology and management; climate change

Prof. Dr. Xiankai Lu

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Guest Editor

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
Interests: nitrogen biogeochemistry; soil carbon sequestration; climate change; forest ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xiong Fang

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Guest Editor

College of Land Resources and Environment, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Interests: carbon cycle; soil microbe; ecological stoichiometry; soil–plant interaction; soil aggregate; soil nutrient; forest restoration; plant diversity; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As an important part of the forest ecosystem, soil microbes play important roles in maintaining multiple ecosystem functions and driving biogeochemical cycles. They can be the key indicators for evaluating soil health and fertility, and the effectiveness of vegetation restoration. Meanwhile, biotic and abiotic factors including climate, vegetation type and soil properties can change the composition and activity of soil microbes, then affect ecological processes and functions.

However, microbial communities are very complex and sensitive to the environment. Compared with the above-ground ecosystem, much less is known about the microbial diversity, composition and functions. In recent years, with the development of microbial determination technology, there has been an increasing number of diverse research studies on soil microbes. Under the background of climate change and ecological restoration, many unknowns and uncertainties exist in the spatial and temporal patterns, functions and influencing factors of forest soil microbes. A better understanding of forest soil microbes will facilitate the understanding of ecological processes and services that can be applied to ecological and forestry practices.

We encourage research in all these areas, including but not limited to: the microbial community composition and diversity; community assembly; growth and metabolic activity and biomass; soil enzymes; stoichiometric characteristics; functional genes; special groups of microbes; plant-microbe interactions; microbial functions (such as involved in elemental biogeochemical cycles, carbon fixation, soil quality, soil formation, pollutant degradation, litter decomposition, and etc.), and their biogeographic patterns; temporal dynamics; and responses to vegetation succession and environmental and climate changes.

Dr. Yujing Yang
Prof. Dr. Xiankai Lu
Dr. Xiong Fang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

forest ecosystem
biodiversity
microbial biogeography
ecosystem services
nutrient cycling
carbon sequestration
climate change
forest restoration
forest succession
forest management

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Research

17 pages, 16047 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stochastic Processes Dominate Soil Microbial Community Assembly during the Restoration of Degraded Karst Forests

by Lei Zu, Guanghui Zhou, Fayu Long, Lipeng Zang, Danmei Chen, Guangqi Zhang, Mingzhen Sui, Yuejun He and Qingfu Liu

Forests 2024, 15(4), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040594 - 25 Mar 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1955

Abstract

The mechanisms underpinning the soil microbial community assembly are important, particularly in the fragile karst forest ecosystem. Despite such significance, relevant topics remain limited. We investigated a typical karst area, the Maolan National Nature Reserve in China. For this purpose, 30 forest dynamics plots were established on three restoration gradients in degraded karst forests, namely shrub, pioneer tree, and climax communities. Using vegetation surveys, we explored the diversity patterns, driving factors, and community assembly of the soil microbial communities during the restoration of degraded karst forest ecosystems. In addition, the soil physicochemical properties and macrogenomic sequencing data were examined. One-way analysis of variance and principal coordinates analysis showed no significant changes in soil microbial α-diversity during restoration, and the opposite pattern was observed for β-diversity. Variation partitioning analysis revealed that the combined effect of both soil microbial β-diversity and soil was significant (28% and 32% for bacteria and fungi, respectively). Pearson correlation analyses showed that plant species diversity and soil multifunctionality correlated significantly with soil microbial β-diversity. In contrast, the direct effect of plants was smaller (2% and 3% for bacteria and fungi, respectively). According to the dispersal–niche continuum index, stochastic processes were responsible for the assembly of the bacterial and fungal soil microbial communities. During restoration, the dominant influence of stochastic effects on the assembly of bacterial communities intensified. In contrast, the reverse tendency was observed in soil fungi. The investigation of the diversity pattern of soil microbial communities and their assembly can provide theoretical references for the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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12 pages, 2810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Restoring Subtropical Forests: Alleviating P Limitation and Introducing C Limitation Using Evergreen Broad-Leaved Tree Species

by Yujing Yang, Wei Xia, Yixuan Fan, Yujie Chong, Jiatai Xiong and Wenjing Yu

Forests 2024, 15(3), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030568 - 21 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1525

Abstract

Determining which species to utilize for the artificial restoration of subtropical secondary forests has become a focal point in forestry and ecology. To compare the effects of the subtropical secondary forest artificial restoration model on soil microbial nutrient acquisition and limitation, we examined secondary forests (CKs), evergreen coniferous forests (GCPs), evergreen coniferous mixed broad-leaved forests (GCBMs), evergreen mixed broad-leaved forests (GBMs), and natural deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests (DBMs) as research subjects. Among them, GCPs, GCBMs, and GBMs were dominated by the species of the early, middle, and climax stages of subtropical forest succession, respectively. The activities and stoichiometry of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and acid phosphatase (ACP) in the topsoil were analyzed. The results showed that the forest type significantly affects the activities of BG and LAP rather than NAG or ACP. The BG activity in DBMs was the lowest, while the LAP activity in CKs was significantly higher than that in plantations. Furthermore, the nutrient limitation of microbes was quantitatively analyzed by using the vector analysis of enzyme stoichiometry. The soil microbes in the study area were co-limited by C and P, and the nutrient limitation was in the order of C > P > N. Among the forests, the enzyme stoichiometric ratios in GCPs and DBMs were closest to 1:1:1. From CKs to GBMs, the microbial C limitation was increased, while the P limitation was decreased. The C limitation in DBMs was slightly lower than that in CKs. Overall, the P limitation in evergreen plantations was less than that in CKs. The soil bulk density, C/P, and N/P significantly influenced enzyme activities and stoichiometry. These results suggest that the artificial restoration of subtropical forests using evergreen species alleviated P limitation, while using deciduous broad-leaved species offered potential for alleviating microbial C limitation. Compared with evergreen broad-leaved species, employing pioneer and mid-successional or deciduous broad-leaved species can better achieve balanced microbial nutrient requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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20 pages, 4236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Trophic Species Diversity Contributes to the Restoration of Soil Multifunctionality in Degraded Karst Forests through Cascading Effects

by Fayu Long, Guanghui Zhou, Lei Zu, Lipeng Zang, Danmei Chen, Guangqi Zhang, Mingzhen Sui, Yuejun He and Qingfu Liu

Forests 2024, 15(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030559 - 19 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2051

Abstract

The biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationship is the basis for studying the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the simultaneous assessment of multi-trophic-level biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality relationship is more conducive to unravelling the restoration mechanism of degraded ecosystems, especially for degraded forest ecosystems with harsh habitats and infertile soils such as karst. In this study, we evaluated the biodiversity and soil multifunctionality (SMF) of degraded karst forests (scrub, SB; secondary growth forests, SG; old-growth forests, OG) in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, China, using 30 sample plots. Biodiversity and soil multifunctionality (SMF) at three trophic levels (plant–soil fauna–soil microorganisms), were assessed through vegetation surveys and soil sampling. One-way ANOVA showed that SMF increased with natural restoration, but multi-trophic level biodiversity showed different trends. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between plant species diversity and SMF (p < 0.001), whereas soil fauna and soil microorganisms were negatively correlated with SMF. Structural equation modeling revealed a cascading effect of the multi-trophic level on the stimulation of the SMF during restoration. Only soil microorganisms exhibited a direct driving effect on SMF (p < 0.001), whereas plants indirectly influenced soil microorganisms through soil fauna, which subsequently affected the SMF. Although we observed the negative effects of increased plant diversity on soil fauna and soil microbial diversity in terms of quantitative relationships, the increase in soil fauna species and the evenness of soil microbial function still contributed to SMF restoration. This study revealed the cascading effects of multi-trophic diversity in promoting SMF restoration and emphasized that soil microbes are key to unraveling restoration mechanisms and processes, whereas soil fauna is an important intermediate link. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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25 pages, 4507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Rhizosphere Functional Microbial Community: A Key Driver of Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency in Karst Forest Plants

by Chunjie Zhou, Danmei Chen, Lipeng Zang, Guangqi Zhang, Qingfu Liu, Mingzhen Sui, Yuejun He, Shasha Wang, Yu Dai, Lidong Wang, Ruxia Bai, Ziyun Feng and Fachun Xiang

Forests 2024, 15(3), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030453 - 28 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1698

Abstract

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in transforming and making phosphorus (P) available in soil through various mechanisms. However, their specific contributions to alleviating P limitation and enhancing P utilization efficiency in plants within the context of a P-deficient karst ecosystem remains unclear. In this study, eco-stoichiometric methods were employed to evaluate the P utilization efficiency of plants grown in the surveyed karst forest located in Guizhou Province, China. Metagenomic sequencing was utilized to further explore the functional genes and microorganisms involved in soil P cycling. The N:P ratio for 18 out of the 20 surveyed plants exceeded 16, indicating widespread P limitation in karst plants. Among them, plants with high P utilization efficiencies (Nandina domestica Thunb.; Mahonia bodinieri Gagnep.; Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li) exhibited higher relative abundances of genes involved in soil P cycling compared to plants with low P utilization efficiencies (Tirpitzia sinensis (Hemsl.) Hallier f.; Albizia kalkora (Roxb.) Prain; Morella rubra Lour.), indicating greater potentials within their rhizosphere microbiomes for soil P transformation. The relative abundance of these functional genes had a significant and positive effect on plant P utilization efficiencies. Structural equation modeling further indicated that microbial P cycling gene abundance directly drove the increase in plant P utilization efficiencies. Specifically, genes involved in soil organic P mineralization (G6PD, suhB, phoD, ppx) and the P uptake and transform system (pstS, pstA, pstB, pstC) contributed to the enhancement of plant P utilization efficiencies. Soil microbial communities involved in P cycling were predominately attributed to Proteobacteria (45.16%–60.02%), Actinobacteria (9.45%–25.23%), and Acidobacteria (5.90%–9.85%), although their contributions varied among different plants. The rhizosphere functional microbial community can thus alleviate P limitation in karst plants, thereby enhancing plant P utilization efficiencies. This study investigated the strong synergism between karst plants and rhizosphere microorganisms and their associated underlying mechanisms from genetic and microbial perspectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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13 pages, 2059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Characterization of a Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacterium and Its Growth-Promoting Effect on Moso Bamboo Seedlings

by Yang Zhang, Songze Wan, Fuxi Shi, Xiangmin Fang and Chao Huang

Forests 2024, 15(2), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020364 - 14 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2173

Abstract

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) offer an eco-friendly approach to boost plant growth in soils low or deficient in phosphorus (P). In this study, we isolated 97 PSB strains from the soil around moso bamboo roots in Jiangxi Province, China. The RW37 strain was identified as Enterobacter soli through its physical characteristics and genetic sequencing. Our experiments revealed that RW37 could dissolve phosphate at levels exceeding 400 mg L⁻¹ across a wide range of environmental conditions, including temperature (25–35 °C), pH levels (3.5–7.2), salinities (0–2.0%), and volumes of medium (1/5–3/5 of flask volume), showcasing its adaptability. Furthermore, RW37 showed remarkable phosphate-solubilizing abilities at various pH levels using different phosphate sources, with the highest capacity observed in a medium containing CaHPO₄. This study also found a negative correlation between P-solubilizing capacity and fermentation broth pH, indicating that RW37 likely secretes organic acids to dissolve phosphate sources. Pot experiments demonstrated that applying RW37 significantly improved the plant height, biomass, root growth, and P uptake of moso bamboo seedlings in red soil. Our results highlight the potential of RW37 as an eco-friendly biofertilizer for subtropical bamboo forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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17 pages, 3931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen Enrichment Regulates the Changes in Soil Aggregate-Associated Bacterial Community: Evidence from a Typical Temperate Forest

by Wenwen Lv, Yulin Liu, Xuying Hai, Yang Liao, Jiwei Li, Lingbo Dong, Zhouping Shangguan and Lei Deng

Forests 2024, 15(1), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010077 - 30 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1471

Abstract

The nitrogen (N) enrichment induced by atmospheric N deposition affects both soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities. However, how N enrichment affects soil aggregate-associated bacterial communities remains largely unclear. In this study, we conducted a two-year N addition experiment (four N levels: 0, 5, 10, and 20 g N m⁻² year⁻¹, corresponding to normal N, low N, medium N, and high N, respectively) in a Quercus liaotungensis Koidz–dominated forest. The distribution, nutrient content, and bacterial community composition of the soil aggregates were measured under various N enrichment conditions. N enrichment changed the aggregate distribution, increased the content of nutrients in aggregates, and altered the aggregate-associated bacterial community composition. N enrichment reduced the complexity of the bacterial co-occurrence network and degraded the interactions between bacteria compared with those observed under the normal N level. Aggregate-associated bacterial community was determined to be primarily affected by N enrichment level but not by aggregate size. The litter properties are the key factors affecting the composition of bacteria in aggregates. These findings improve our understanding of aggregate-associated bacterial responses to N enrichment and the related influencing factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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14 pages, 6787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Forest Gaps on Forest Floor Microbial Community Composition in Pinus tabulaeformis Forests in a Rocky Mountain Area, Beijing, China

by Hongjuan Zhou, Yuqing Geng, Zihan Wang, Ruihong Dai, Qinrui Tian, Yanling Ge and Lixin Chen

Forests 2023, 14(10), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101954 - 26 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1310

Abstract

Forest gaps induce environmental heterogeneity, but their effects on the local forest floor microbial communities are not fully understood. This research investigated the impact of forest gap positions on the forest floor microbial community composition to provide baseline information for projects to accelerate nutrient cycling and forest regeneration and enhance ecosystem services. A one-year-old forest gap and an area of 40–50 m² in Pinus tabulaeformis plantations were selected in the Beijing mountainous area. Forest floor samples were collected from the following positions: gap center, gap border, and adjacent closed canopy. Our study demonstrated that gap positions significantly influenced the forest floor microbial community composition. The Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and total bacteria, as well as the fungi, were significantly greater in the forest gap center and gap border compared to those in the closed canopy, and the dissolved organic carbon, readily oxidized organic carbon, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen followed the same trend. Compared with those of the closed canopy, the Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, total bacteria, and fungi in the gap center were markedly greater by 23%, 25%, 22%, and 24% and by 14%, 14%, 11%, and 16% in the gap border, respectively (p < 0.05). Redundancy analysis demonstrated that shifts in the litter microbial community composition were predominantly predicted by litter moisture and β-1,4-glucosidase. In addition, we discovered that the microbial community composition was greater in the undecomposed forest layer than that in the semi-decomposed layer. In summary, gap positions and forest floor layers have a significant impact on microbial community composition. Nevertheless, additional long-term investigations are needed. Our study provides a reference for the promotion of nutrient cycling to guide future ecological management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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21 pages, 7593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Microbial Communities on Elevational Gradient Adaptation Strategies of Pinus yunnanensis Franch. and Pinus densata Mast. in a Mixed Zone

by Dejin Mu, Junrong Tang, Nianhui Cai, Shi Chen, Yingnian He, Zijun Deng, Yi Yang, Dan Yang, Yulan Xu and Lin Chen

Forests 2023, 14(4), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040685 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2072

Abstract

Pinus densata Mast. is considered a homoploid hybrid species that originated from the putative parent species Pinus tabuliformis Carr. and Pinus yunnanensis Franch., but the mechanism of the adaptive differentiation of P. densata and its parents in native habitats has not been reported. Therefore, the overlapping distribution areas between P. densata and P. yunnanensis in the heart of the Hengduan Mountains were chosen. The adaptive differentiation mechanism of the homoploid hybrids and their parents with respect to the elevational gradient was studied based on the morphological features and the different strategies of recruiting endophytic microbial communities from the rhizosphere soil. The results showed that (1) the height and diameter at breast height were the greatest at 2600 m and 2900 m, and from 2700 m to 2900 m, three-needle pines (P. yunnanensis-like type) transitioned into two-needle pines (P. densata-like type). (2) The recruitment of rhizosphere microbial communities was driven by the C, N, P and pH values which showed significant elevation features. (3) There was a significant difference in the recruitment strategies of endophytes between the P. yunnanensis-like type and P. densata-like type. Pinus densata mainly reduced the recruitment of Mucoromycota (fungi) and increased the recruitment of Proteobacteria (bacteria), which may be related to environmental adaptability, quorum sensing and the metabolism of auxiliary factors and vitamins at high elevations. (4) The root endophytic microbiome was enriched in the rare groups from the rhizosphere soil microbial pool. The results of this study provide new insights and new ideas for environmental adaptability and differentiation in homoploid hybrid speciation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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17 pages, 3163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Divergent Effects of Fertilizer Regimes on Taxonomic and Functional Compositions of Rhizosphere Bacteria and Fungi in Phoebe bournei Young Plantations Are Associated with Root Exudates

by Zhong Luo, Xisha Yang, Jing Li, Shizhi Wen, Lili Yang, Li Ji and Gongxiu He

Forests 2023, 14(1), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010126 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2108

Abstract

Fertilization is widely acknowledged as being an essential practice to improve forest productivity in forest ecosystems. However, too little consideration has been given to the taxonomic and functional compositions of rhizosphere soil microbes and their interactions with root exudates under different fertilizer regimes in forest plantations. Here, we investigated the effects of four typical fertilizer regimes (CK, no fertilizer; CF, compound fertilizer; OF, organic fertilizer; CMF, compound microbial fertilizer) on soil microbial communities and their potential functional groups in Phoebe bournei young plantations, as well as their associations with soil physicochemical properties and root exudates. These results showed that fertilizer regimes strikingly affected the rhizosphere soil microbial community compositions and alpha diversity indices. The pathotroph was the dominant fungal guild. With the applications of three fertilizations, the relative abundances of the plant pathogen and arbuscular mycorrhiza increased. The alpha diversity of soil bacteria was highest under the OF regime, and soil fungal diversity was more powerfully affected by the amendment of CMF. Additionally, while the fungal community was simultaneously influenced by soil physiochemical factors and root exudates, the bacterial community in the rhizosphere was mostly impacted by root exudates. More importantly, the application of OF and CF induced dramatic growths of Fusarium, while CMF treatment including Bacillus suppressed the development of Fusarium via adjusting bacterial species. Overall, our findings exhibit the divergent responses of rhizosphere bacteria and fungi to fertilizer regimes in P. bournei young plantations. The application of organic fertilizer provides benefits for rhizosphere bacteria, and microbial fertilizer can help alleviate inhibition through changing pathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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15 pages, 4371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Higher Soil Aggregate Stability in Subtropical Coniferous Plantations Than Natural Forests Due to Microbial and Aggregate Factors

by Lin Cai, Yujing Yang, Yujie Chong, Jiatai Xiong, Juyang Wu, Xunru Ai, Qiuju Guo, Yiping Yuan and Zhongqiang Li

Forests 2022, 13(12), 2110; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122110 - 9 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2149

Abstract

Forest restoration and soil structure stabilization are the focus of forestry and ecology. However, the combined mechanisms of soil microorganisms and organic and inorganic aggregate binding agents on soil aggregation is unclear. In order to explore the effects of subtropical forest restoration types on soil aggregates and the underlying mechanisms, we collected soil samples from subtropical natural forests and coniferous and broad-leaved plantations that are commonly used for forest restoration. The mean weight diameter (MWD) of the soil aggregate was used to indicate the aggregates’ stability. The soil microbial diversity and structure, the organic and inorganic aggregate binding agents including the mycorrhizal density, the glomalin-related soil protein and the Fe and Al oxides were investigated. Results showed that the Shannon and Simpson indices of soil microbial communities in the coniferous plantations were both significantly higher than those in the natural forests. At the annual level, compared with the natural forests, the plantations decreased the proportion of 0.25–1 mm aggregates while the MWD significantly increased. The forest type also significantly affected the mycorrhizal density, the easily extractable glomalin-related soil proteins (EEG) and the Fe oxide. A variance decomposition analysis showed that soil microbial communities, organic and inorganic binding agents, and their interactions together contributed to the aggregates’ composition and stability by 75.07%. The MWD was positively correlated with the microbial diversity, mycorrhizal density and Fe oxide. We therefore suggest that the combined effects of the soil microbial communities and the organic (mycorrhizal density) and inorganic binding agents (Fe oxide) can be the main mechanisms of soil aggregation in the study area, resulting in a higher soil aggregate stability in the subtropical coniferous plantation than in the natural forest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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16 pages, 3948 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities to Soil Carbon Accumulation during the Development of Cunninghamia lanceolata Plantations

by Zhiyuan Liu, Yu Han, Faying Lai, Haiying Zhao and Jiling Cao

Forests 2022, 13(12), 2099; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122099 - 9 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1883

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can establish mutual association with most land plants, and impact a series of important ecological processes, including plant productivity, ecological succession and soil carbon (C) accumulation. Understanding the AM fungal diversity and community assembly, and their associated soil C sequestration, could be a crucial interest for the forest ecologist. In this study, the AM fungal abundances and community structure as well as glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) concentrations were investigated in typical development stages (young, middle and mature) of Cunninghamia lanceolate plantations, which are widely distributed species in subtropical regions. The mycorrhizal colonization, spore density, AM fungal biomass and diversity were higher in mature than younger stands. The development of C. lanceolata also increased soil GRSP concentrations, and enhanced their C contribution to soil organic C. Soil difficulty extractable (DE) GRSP demonstrated a greater C contribution to soil organic C relative to easily extractable (EE) GRSP. Linkage analyses found that AM fungal biomass demonstrated a positive correlation with GRSP concentrations, and soil organic C positively related to DE-GRSP and total (T) GRSP. Soil AM fungal community structure differed dramatically across all studied C. lanceolata plantations with a decrease in Gigasporaceae and increase in Acaulosporaceae. Soil AM fungal community assembly was more phylogenetic clustering than expected by chance and primarily shaped by deterministic processes, with a non-shift during the development of C. lanceolata. Collectively, C. lanceolata development shaped the AM fungal communities and enhanced their biomass and GRSP contents, which might, in turn, partially contribute to soil C accumulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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12 pages, 3064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Intercropping Mulberry (Morus alba L.) with Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), on the Soil Rhizosphere Microbial Community

by Muzi Li, Yawei Wei, You Yin, Hui Ding, Wenxu Zhu and Yongbin Zhou

Forests 2022, 13(11), 1757; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111757 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2338

Abstract

China is a country dominated by agriculture, but due to its geographical reasons, the western Liaoning region has caused sandstorms, and the desertified soil has reduced crop yields and suppressed the agricultural economy. Therefore, the concept of ecological agriculture and the agroforestry system received extensive attention. Arachis hypogaea are the main crop in the north of China. At present, the research on peanuts mainly focuses on grain crop intercropping, and there is limited research on the agroforestry of peanuts. In addition, Morus alba is a restorative plant emerging in China in recent years, which takes into account both ecological and economic benefits. Based on the above problems, we intercropped mulberry and peanut to explore their effects on farmland soil characteristics and rhizosphere soil bacterial and fungal communities. Our study showed that intercropping did not improve soil nutrients, but significantly reduced soil C:N, and reduced soil C:P and N:P to some extent. Intercropping improves the diversity and richness of soil microorganisms in farmland. The abundance of dominant bacterial and fungal phyla and genera increased in the soil. Actinobacteria were significantly negatively correlated with N:P, Proteobacteria was negatively correlated with TP and positively correlated with N:P., Ascomycota was positively correlated with soil nutrients and C:N, while Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota were negatively correlated; Mycobacterium and RB41 were significantly correlated with phosphorus in soil, and Talaromyces were significantly positively correlated with soil nutrients and C:N. In conclusion, mulberry and peanut intercropping promoted soil humus, increased soil-available phosphorus content, and provided a good environment for microbial growth. These results provide new ideas for peanut agroforestry production and theoretical support for the construction of mulberry and peanut composite systems in Northeast China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)

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