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Forests
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Forest Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry
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Forest Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2565

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gexi Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Interests: forest community ecology; plant-microbe interactions; ecological stoichiometry
Prof. Dr. Hui Li

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Shenyang Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
Interests: aboveground-belowground interactions; climate change microbiology; microbial biogeography; Soil microbial ecology; forest soil microoraganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests are crucial in preserving the plant, animal, and microbial biodiversity of our planet. Due to theuniqueness and complexity of forest ecosystems, we are yet to fully understand the community structures and functions of the forest microbiome and the biogeochemical processes associated with it.This Special Issue (SI) on forest microbiology and biogeochemistry aims to enhance our knowledge regarding the contribution of soil microbes to forest community assembly and ecosystem functions, including nutrient cycling, biodiversity preservation, and the enhancement of biomass or productivity. We appreciate interdisciplinary research and specifically welcome papers that focus on the following: (i) microbial assemblages and their biological and environmental drivers in mycorrhizae, rhizospheres, and bulk soils; (ii) soil C, N, P-biogeochemistry and their relationships with the soil microbiome across forest ecosystems; and (iii) how soil microbiology and stoichiometry regulate forest regeneration and succession following intense human and climatic disturbance. We also welcome papers exploring plant–soil–microbe interactions from the following perspectives: functional traits, stable isotopes, and RNA-seq, etc. We look forward to receiving your submission.

Dr. Gexi Xu
Prof. Dr. Hui Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest ecosystems
  • soil microbiology
  • soil biogeochemistry
  • fungi and bacteria
  • nutrient cycling
  • ecological processes and mechanisms

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1580 KiB  
Article
Effects of Mixed Addition of Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. Litter on Nitrogen Mineralization in Dark Brown Soil of Northeast China
by Shixing Han, Xuesong Miao, Yandong Zhang and Hailong Sun
Forests 2025, 16(5), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050842 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 135
Abstract
The changes in soil nitrogen mineralization rate induced by litter input can determine the availability of nitrogen for plant growth in the soil. In forest ecosystems, the mixing of different species of litter can alter the chemical properties of the litter, ultimately affecting [...] Read more.
The changes in soil nitrogen mineralization rate induced by litter input can determine the availability of nitrogen for plant growth in the soil. In forest ecosystems, the mixing of different species of litter can alter the chemical properties of the litter, ultimately affecting the rates of soil nitrogen transformation and cycling. In this study, litters with Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. and mixed litter with Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix gmelinii were added to dark brown soil and incubated in the lab for 175 days at 25 °C. NH4+-N and NO3−-N contents and nitrogen mineralization rates were periodically measured to explore the effect of mixed litter addition on soil nitrogen mineralization. The results showed that compared to Larix gmelinii litter, Fraxinus mandshurica litter demonstrates higher carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents while exhibiting lower lignin and cellulose contents and lower C/N and lignin/N ratios. Soil inorganic nitrogen content showed a trend of initial decrease followed by an increase. At the end of the incubation, soil NH4+-N and NO3−-N and the total inorganic nitrogen contents were 4.6–7.8 times, 2.2–3.4 times, and 2.9–4.3 times higher than the initial value, respectively. The soil nitrogen mineralization rate exhibited an initial rapid increase followed by stabilization. During days 7–28 of incubation, the nitrogen mineralization rates in litter addition treatments were lower than that in the control, while they were higher than that in the control during days 42–175. The soil nitrogen mineralization rate in the treatments with Fraxinus mandshurica litter and mixed litter were higher than those in the treatment with Larix gmelinii litter. The cumulative net nitrogen mineralization amounts in the Fraxinus mandshurica litter and mixed litter treatments were higher than those in the Larix gmelinii litter treatment, being 1.5 and 1.2 times those of the Larix gmelinii litter treatment, respectively. MBC and MBN presented a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, peaking on days 7 and 14 of incubation, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that soil inorganic nitrogen content and nitrogen mineralization rate were positively correlated with the litter total nitrogen and soil microbial carbon and nitrogen and negatively correlated with litter C/N and lignin/N. The changes in soil inorganic nitrogen and nitrogen mineralization are primarily associated with soil microbial immobilization. Initially, in the treatments with litter addition, an increase in microbial biomass enhanced the immobilization of soil inorganic nitrogen. Subsequently, as litter mineralization progressed, the amount of litter decreased, leading to reduced microbial biomass and weakened immobilization. This study indicates that the interaction between litter types and soil microorganisms is the key factor affecting soil nitrogen mineralization process and soil mineral nitrogen content. These findings provide a scientific basis for soil fertility management in the forest ecosystems of Northeast China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry)
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10 pages, 1755 KiB  
Article
Rubber Intercropped with Coffea liberica Increases Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Soils in Xishuangbanna, China
by Xinai Li, Xiaokun Ou, Deyun Chen and Jianping Wu
Forests 2025, 16(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16010013 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 661
Abstract
Intercropped systems are regarded as a promising strategy for generating multiple benefits to the ecosystems in the rubber-plantation zone. However, knowledge about the impacts of intercropped systems with rubber on carbon and nitrogen storage in soils and their affecting factors is limited. In [...] Read more.
Intercropped systems are regarded as a promising strategy for generating multiple benefits to the ecosystems in the rubber-plantation zone. However, knowledge about the impacts of intercropped systems with rubber on carbon and nitrogen storage in soils and their affecting factors is limited. In this study, three rubber-based intercropped systems, including rubber intercropped with Theobroma cacao, Coffea liberica, and Camellia sinensis, as well as rubber monoculture, were selected in Xishuangbanna, a typical rubber plantation zone in China. We collected soil samples from 0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm depths to analyze soil bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (TN), pH, the ratio of carbon and nitrogen (C/N), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). The results showed that rubber trees intercropped with C. liberica significantly increased the SOC and TN stocks of the 0–40 cm soil layer by 19.9% and 13.6%, respectively, compared to rubber monoculture. Soil properties usually had strong relationships with SOC and TN stocks. Our study demonstrated that rubber with the C. liberica intercropped system had greater potential for C and N sequestration in this tropical region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry)
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20 pages, 7365 KiB  
Article
Increased Soil Moisture in the Wet Season Alleviates the Negative Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on Soil Microbial Communities in Subtropical Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest
by Wen Chen, Zheng Hou, Donghui Zhang, Leixi Chen, Keqin Wang and Yali Song
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1473; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081473 - 21 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1195
Abstract
The rapid increase in reactive nitrogen (N) released into the environment by human activities has notably altered the structure and composition of forest soil microbial communities (SMCs), profoundly impacting the N cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the response of soil microorganisms to nitrogen [...] Read more.
The rapid increase in reactive nitrogen (N) released into the environment by human activities has notably altered the structure and composition of forest soil microbial communities (SMCs), profoundly impacting the N cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the response of soil microorganisms to nitrogen addition in different seasons is not clear. This study delved into how SMCs in a subtropical region of central Yunnan, China, specifically in an evergreen broad-leaved forest (EBLF), respond to N deposition during both the dry and wet seasons. Through high-throughput sequencing, we assessed the composition and structure of SMCs under varying N addition treatments across seasons, examining their interplay with soil chemical properties, enzyme activities, and community responses. The findings revealed significant outcomes following four years of N addition in the subtropical EBLF: (1) Significant changes were observed due to the interaction between N addition and seasonal changes. Soil pH significantly decreased, indicating increased soil acidification, particularly in the dry season. Increased moisture in the wet season mitigated soil acidification. (2) In the dry season, N addition led to a decrease in microbial richness and diversity. In the wet season, N addition increased microbial richness and diversity, alleviating the downward trend observed in the dry season. (3) N addition significantly impacted the composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities. Dominant fungal genera in the wet season were particularly sensitive to N addition. (4) Seasonal changes and N addition altered soil microbial community structures. Soil chemical properties and enzyme activities significantly influenced the microbial community structure. However, due to differences in soil moisture, the key environmental factors that regulate microbial communities have changed significantly during the dry and wet seasons. This study serves as a foundation for understanding how N deposition impacts SMCs in EBLF ecosystems in subtropical regions, offering valuable insights for the scientific management of forest ecological resources amidst global change trends. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry)
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