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Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Microbial Roles in Biogeochemical Cycles...
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Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Microbial Roles in Biogeochemical Cycles in Forestry

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 839

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhiyang Lie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
Interests: soil organic carbon; biogeochemistry; microbial nutrient limitation; nitrogen cycle; phosphorus transformation; climate change
Dr. Xuli Tang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
Interests: soil carbon chemical composition; carbon accumulation; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; soil nutrients; soil phosphorus
Dr. Tongtong Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: dissolved organic matter; water pollution; wastewater treatment; environmental science; waste resource recovery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance, regulating climate, and promoting economic development. However, forests are facing multiple threats globally, such as deforestation, land degradation, climate change, forest fires, pests and diseases, and invasive alien species, leading to a decline in the stability of forest ecosystems and biodiversity. This is linked to imbalances in biogeochemical cycles, as biogeochemical processes affect the survival and reproduction of species, as well as the formation and maintenance of community structures, in forest ecosystems. Soil organic carbon is an important basis for soil fertility and ecosystem functioning; microorganisms are key drivers of soil organic carbon decomposition, formation, and transformation; and changes in organic carbon and microorganisms can greatly affect biogeochemical cycles. This Special Issue compiles and showcases the latest advancements in relation to the roles of soil organic carbon and microbes in biogeochemical cycles, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the restoration and enhancement of forest ecosystem functions. We welcome submissions of various types of literature, including review articles, research papers, and more.

Possible topics, include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The role of soil organic matter in forest biogeochemical cycles;
  • Microbial regulation mechanisms in biogeochemical cycles;
  • Relationship between biogeochemical cycles and forest productivity and stability;
  • Effects of land use change on biogeochemical cycles;
  • Effects of climate change on biogeochemical cycles;
  • Effects of forest restoration on biogeochemical cycles;
  • Climate change mitigation strategies through biogeochemical cycle management.

Dr. Zhiyang Lie
Dr. Xuli Tang
Guest Editors

Dr. Tongtong Zhou
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • biogeochemical cycle
  • carbon sequestration
  • nitrogen cycle
  • phosphorus cycle
  • sulfur cycle
  • microbial processes
  • forest ecosystems
  • forest management

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2402 KiB  
Article
Effects of Different Vegetation Types on Soil Quality in Golden Huacha (Camellia petelotii) National Nature Reserve
by Yong Jiang, Sheng Xu, Weiwei Gu, Siqi Wu, Jian Qiu, Wenxu Zhu and Nanyan Liao
Forests 2025, 16(5), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050865 - 21 May 2025
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Abstract
Natural and planted forests differentially regulate soil quality through vegetation–soil interactions. The effects of four types of planting covers on soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and microbial communities in the Guangxi Camellia nitidissima National Nature Reserve were studied, revealing the multi-dimensional influences of natural [...] Read more.
Natural and planted forests differentially regulate soil quality through vegetation–soil interactions. The effects of four types of planting covers on soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and microbial communities in the Guangxi Camellia nitidissima National Nature Reserve were studied, revealing the multi-dimensional influences of natural (broadleaf, shrubland) and planted forests (bamboo, pine) on soil quality. Surface soils (0–10 cm depth) were characterized for physicochemical properties (pH, TC, TN, NO3−-N, AP), enzyme activities (α-amylase, urease, phosphatase, β-glucosidase), and microbial composition (using 16S rRNA and ITS region sequencing). Mantel tests and PLS–PM modeling were employed to investigate interactions among vegetation, soil variables, and microbes. Natural forests exhibited higher pH, nitrate nitrogen, and enzymatic activities (urease, phosphatase, β-glucosidase) alongside enhanced carbon–nitrogen accumulation and reduced acidification. Planted forests showed elevated available phosphorus and nutrient supply but lower organic matter retention. Microbial communities displayed higher similarity within natural forests, with fungal composition strongly linked to total carbon/nitrogen (p < 0.05). Vegetation type positively influenced bacterial diversity but negatively affected fungal communities. Natural forests maintained critical soil–microbe–plant interactions supporting ecosystem resilience through carbon–nitrogen cycling, while planted forests fostered divergent microbial functionality despite short-term nutrient benefits. These findings underscore natural forests’ unique role in preserving ecological stability and reveal fundamental limitations of artificial systems in mimicking microbially-mediated biogeochemical processes. Conservation policy should prioritize the protection of natural forests while simultaneously integrating microbial community management with vegetation restoration efforts to enhance long-term ecosystem functionality and nutrient cycling efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Microbial Roles in Biogeochemical Cycles in Forestry)
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18 pages, 2158 KiB  
Article
Relationship Between Forest Structure and Soil Characteristics with Flooded and Non-Flooded Rainforests of Northern Amazonia (Brazil)
by Edyrlli Naele Barbosa Pimentel, Lucas Botelho Jerônimo, Manoel Tavares de Paula, María Vanessa Lencinas, Guillermo Martínez Pastur and Gerardo Rubio
Forests 2025, 16(5), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050793 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 234
Abstract
Environmental variability modifies forest structure through interactions among soil properties, topography, and climate. These factors influence the occurrence of contrasting forest types in northern Amazonia (Brazil), such as forests in highlands (Terra Firme) and forests under regular flooding (Várzea). Flooding regimes influence soil [...] Read more.
Environmental variability modifies forest structure through interactions among soil properties, topography, and climate. These factors influence the occurrence of contrasting forest types in northern Amazonia (Brazil), such as forests in highlands (Terra Firme) and forests under regular flooding (Várzea). Flooding regimes influence soil formation and modify soil geochemistry, nutrient distribution, and organic matter accumulation, shaping forest structure and composition. The objective was to determine the relationships between structure and soil characteristics in non-flooded and flooded tropical forests. We compared forest structure and soil characteristics at both conditions (n = 2 treatments × 20 replicas = 40 plots) using univariate and multivariate analyses. We found significant differences in most of the studied variables between forest types, both chemical and physical properties. Our results showed that flooding defines forest structure and composition (e.g., tree density, height, and volume) and influences soil nutrient characteristics. Floodplain forests exhibited higher soil nutrient concentration and organic carbon content, likely due to periodic litter accumulation, sediments, and reduced decomposition rates. In contrast, non-flooded forests were characterized by lower nutrient levels, higher sand content, and greater forest structure values (e.g., height, basal area, and volume). These insights contribute to understanding the functioning of both forest ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Microbial Roles in Biogeochemical Cycles in Forestry)
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19 pages, 8099 KiB  
Article
Soil Microbial Communities and Their Relationship with Soil Nutrients in Different Density Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Plantations in the Mu Us Sandy Land
by Long Hai, Mei Zhou, Kai Zhao, Guangyu Hong, Zihao Li, Lei Liu, Xiaowei Gao, Zhuofan Li and Fengzi Li
Forests 2025, 16(3), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16030547 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 320
Abstract
In the Mu Us Sandy Land, vegetation is closely related to soil microorganisms and nutrients. However, research on the relationship between soil microbial communities and nutrients in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantations of different densities is still imperfect. This study selected Pinus sylvestris [...] Read more.
In the Mu Us Sandy Land, vegetation is closely related to soil microorganisms and nutrients. However, research on the relationship between soil microbial communities and nutrients in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantations of different densities is still imperfect. This study selected Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantations with high, medium, and low densities, as well as bare sandy land, to analyze the relationship between vegetation density and soil nutrients, microbial community structure, and diversity indices. The results show that the following: (1) Medium-density plantations significantly increased soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and total potassium content, which were 4.3 times that of bare sandy land and 1.7 times that of high-density plantations; (2) In high-density plantations, the relative abundance of bacterial phyla Actinobacteriota and fungal phylum Ascomycota was higher; as plantation density decreased, the relative abundance of bacterial phyla Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota and fungal phylum Basidiomycota increased, with different density plantations significantly affecting soil microbial community structure; (3) High-density plantations significantly increased the abundance of bacterial and fungal genera but also reduced bacterial diversity indices, while medium-density plantations were outstanding in enhancing fungal species richness and diversity, with the highest fungal Shannon index, indicating that medium density is conducive to fungal diversity enhancement; (4) Soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, and pH value were the main environmental factors affecting soil microbial community structure. High-density plantations significantly affected soil microbial community structure by changing these soil nutrients and physicochemical properties, especially related to changes in total potassium and pH value. This study clarified the effects of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation density on soil nutrients and microbial community structure, revealing the intrinsic connection between soil nutrients and microbial communities, providing a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration in the Mu Us Sandy Land ecosystem, and helping to formulate scientific management strategies for Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantations to improve sandy land soil quality and promote the sustainable development of sandy land ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Microbial Roles in Biogeochemical Cycles in Forestry)
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