Forest Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics: Seasonal and Stand-Specific Variations
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2026 | Viewed by 662
Editors
Interests: microbial necromass; extracellular polymeric substances; soil organic carbon formation; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: microbial necromass; extracellular polymeric substances; soil organic carbon formation; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Interests: the microbial-mediated formation and stabilization mechanisms of soil organic carbon; new carbon allocation in forests and grasslands through 13C labeling
Interests: soil
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Forest soils are complex and dynamic systems that play a fundamental role in regulating ecosystem productivity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. These critical processes show significant temporal and spatial dynamics, driven by seasonal cycles and variations across different forest stands. Such fluctuations directly influence nutrient availability, carbon storage, and overall ecosystem resilience, making their understanding essential for sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation in an era of global change.
This Special Issue aims to consolidate cutting-edge research that explores the temporal (seasonal) and spatial (stand-specific) variability in forest soil physicochemical properties and associated microbial community structure and function. We specifically welcome studies employing multidisciplinary approaches to reveal the underlying mechanisms and ecological implications of these soil–microbe dynamics. By integrating diverse perspectives, we seek to provide a comprehensive overview of how forest ecosystems function across different scales.
We cordially invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies that contribute to a deeper, integrative understanding of forest soil ecology and its role in maintaining healthy, productive forest environments.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Seasonal shifts in forest soil microbial diversity and activity;
- Interactions between soil characteristics (e.g., moisture, pH, organic matter) and microbial communities across different forest types;
- Impact of stand composition, age, and management practices on soil–microbe interactions;
- Microbe-driven biogeochemical processes (e.g., C and N cycling) and their seasonal patterns;
- Methodological advances in monitoring soil and microbial dynamics in forest ecosystems.
Prof. Dr. Yang Yang
Dr. Baorong Wang
Dr. Xuejuan Bai
Guest Editors
Dr. Jiaojiao Liao
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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-anonymized 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 soil properties
- microbial communities
- seasonal dynamics
- stand-specific variations
- soil microbiome
- biogeochemical cycling
- forest ecosystem management
- environmental drivers
- soil–plant–microbe interactions
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
