Search Results (403)

Peanut cultivation is widely practiced using plastic mulch film, resulting in the accumulation of microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) in agricultural soils, potentially negatively affecting peanut growth. To investigate the effects of two polystyrene (PS) sizes (5 μm, 50 nm) and three concentrations (0, 10, and 100 mg L⁻¹) on peanut growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and physiological characteristics, a 15-day hydroponic experiment was conducted using peanut seedlings as the experimental material. The results indicated that PS-MPs/NPs inhibited peanut growth, reduced soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) values (6.7%), and increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA, 22.0%), superoxide anion (O₂⁻, 3.8%) superoxide dismutase (SOD, 16.1%) and catalase (CAT, 12.1%) activity, and ascorbic acid (ASA, 12.6%) and glutathione (GSH, 9.1%) contents compared to the control. Moreover, high concentrations (100 mg L⁻¹) of PS-MPs/NPs reduced the peanut shoot fresh weight (16.1%) and SPAD value (7.2%) and increased levels of MDA (17.1%), O₂⁻ (5.6%), SOD (10.6%), POD (27.2%), CAT (7.3%), ASA (12.3%), and GSH (6.8%) compared to low concentrations (10 mg L⁻¹) of PS-MPs/NPs. Notably, under the same concentration, the impact of 50 nm PS-NPs was stronger than that of 5 μm PS-MPs. The peanut shoot fresh weight of PS-NPs was lower than that of PS-MPs by an average of 7.9%. Additionally, we found that with an increasing exposure time of PS-MPs/NPs, the inhibitory effect of low concentrations of PS-MPs/NPs on the fresh weight was decreased by 2.5%/9.9% (5 d) and then increased by 7.7%/2.7% (15 d). Conversely, high concentrations of PS-MPs/NPs consistently reduced the fresh weight. Correlation analysis revealed a clear positive correlation between peanut biomass and both the SPAD values as well as Fv/Fm, and a negative correlation with MDA, SOD, CAT, ASA, and GSH. Furthermore, the presence of PS-MPs/NPs in roots, stems, and leaves was confirmed using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The internalization of PS-MPs/NPs within peanut tissues negatively impacted peanut growth by increasing the MDA and O₂⁻ levels, reducing the SPAD values, and inhibiting the photosynthetic capacity. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that the effects of PS on peanuts were correlated with the PS size, concentration, and exposure time, highlighting the potential risk of 50 nm to 5 μm PS being absorbed by peanuts. Full article

Soil respiration (Rt), consisting of heterotrophic (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra), plays a vital role in terrestrial carbon cycling and is sensitive to soil temperature and moisture. In dryland agriculture, plastic film mulching (PM) is widely used to regulate soil hydrothermal conditions, but its effects on Rt components and their temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) across regions remain unclear. A two-year field study was conducted at two rain-fed maize sites: Anding (warmer, semi-arid) and Yuzhong (colder, drier). PM significantly increased Rt, Rh, and Ra, especially Ra, due to enhanced root biomass and improved microclimate. Yield increased by 33.6–165%. Peak respiration occurred earlier in Anding, aligned with maize growth and soil temperature. PM reduced Q₁₀ of Rt and Ra in Anding, but only Ra in Yuzhong. Rh Q₁₀ remained stable, indicating microbial respiration was less sensitive to temperature changes. Structural equation modeling revealed that Rt and Ra were mainly driven by soil temperature and root biomass, while Rh was more influenced by microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Despite increased CO₂ emissions, PM improved carbon emission efficiency (CEE), particularly in Yuzhong (+67%). The application of PM is recommended to enhance yield while optimizing carbon efficiency in dryland farming systems. Full article

Analyzing the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in dryland areas of southern Shanxi, particularly under the influence of fertilization and mulching conditions, is crucial for enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity and understanding the SOC pool’s resilience to future climate change scenarios in the region. In a long-term experimental site located in Hongtong County, Shanxi Province, soil samples were collected from the 0–100 cm depth over a nine-year period. These samples were analyzed to evaluate the impact of five treatments: no fertilization and no mulching (CK), conventional farming practices (FP), nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization (MF), nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization with ridge-film furrow-sowing (RF), and nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization with flat-film hole-sowing (FH). The average annual yield of wheat grain, SOC stock, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC), and heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) stocks were measured. The results revealed that the FH treatment not only significantly increased wheat grain yield but also significantly elevated the SOC stock by 23.71% at the 0–100 cm depth compared to CK. Furthermore, this treatment significantly enhanced the POC, LFOC, and MOC stocks by 106.43–292.98%, 36.93–158.73%, and 17.83–81.55%, respectively, within 0–80 cm. However, it also significantly decreased the WSOC stock by 34.32–42.81% within the same soil layer and the HFOC stock by 72.05–101.51% between the 20 and 100 cm depth. Notably, the SOC stock at the 0–100 cm depth was primarily influenced by the HFOC. Utilizing the DNDC (denitrification–decomposition) model, we found that future temperature increases are detrimental to SOC sequestration in dryland areas, whereas reduced rainfall is beneficial. The simulation results indicated that in a warmer climate, a 2 °C temperature increase would result in a SOC stock decrease of 0.77 to 1.01 t·ha⁻¹ compared to a 1 °C increase scenario. Conversely, under conditions of reduced precipitation, a 20% rainfall reduction would lead to a SOC stock increase of 1.53% to 3.42% compared to a 10% decrease scenario. In conclusion, the nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization with flat-film hole-sowing (FH) treatment emerged as the most effective practice for increasing SOC sequestration in dryland areas by enhancing the HFOC stock. This treatment also fortified the SOC pool’s capacity to withstand future climate change, thereby serving as the optimal approach for concurrently enhancing production and fertility in this region. Full article

Soil bacteria drive biogeochemical cycles and influence disease suppression, playing pivotal roles in sustainable agriculture. Using Illumina MiSeq sequencing, we assessed how six ridge-furrow film mulching patterns affect soil bacterial diversity in a continuous potato system. The Shannon index showed significantly higher diversity in fully mulched treatments (T2–T3) versus controls (CK), suggesting mulching enhances microbial community richness. This result suggests that complete mulching combined with ridge planting (T2) may significantly enhance bacterial proliferation in soil. The bacterial communities were predominantly composed of Acidobacteria, Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexota, and Planctomycetota. Among these, Acidobacteria showed the highest abundance, with ridge planting patterns favoring greater Acidobacteria richness compared to furrow planting. In contrast, Pseudomonadota exhibited higher abundance under half-mulching conditions than under complete mulching. At class level, Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria emerged as the most abundant groups, with Proteobacteria constituting 22.6–35.7% of total microbial populations. Notably, Proteobacteria demonstrated particular dominance under the complete mulching with ridge planting pattern (T2). At the genus level, Subgroup_6_norank represented the most dominant taxon among the 439 identified bacterial genera, accounting for 14.0–20.2% of communities across all treatments, with half-mulching ridge planting (T4) showing the highest relative abundance. Our findings demonstrate that different ridge-furrow film mulching patterns significantly influence soil microbial diversity. While traditional non-mulched (CK) and mulched flat plots (T1) exhibited similar impacts on bacterial community structure, other treatments displayed distinct taxonomic profiles. Complete mulching patterns, particularly ridge planting (T2), appear most conducive to microbial development, suggesting their potential to enhance soil biogeochemical cycling in continuous cropping systems. These results provide valuable insights for optimizing mulching practices to improve soil health in agricultural ecosystems. Full article

This study conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of biodegradable (BD) mulching film in onion cultivation, with a focus on plant growth, yield, soil environment, weed suppression, and film degradation, in comparison to conventional polyethylene (PE) film and non-mulching (NM) treatment across multiple regions and years (2023–2024). The BD and PE films demonstrated similar impacts on onion growth, bulb size, yield, and weed suppression, significantly outperforming NM, with yield increases of over 13%. There were no consistent differences in soil pH, electrical conductivity, and physical properties in crops that used either BD or PE film. Soil temperature and moisture were also comparable regardless of which film type was used, confirming BD’s viability as an alternative to PE. However, areas that used BD film had soils which exhibited reduced microbial populations, particularly Bacillus and actinomycetes which was likely caused by degradation by-products. BD film degradation was evident from 150 days post-transplantation, with near-complete decomposition at 60 days post-burial, whereas PE remained largely intact (≈98%) during the same period. These results confirm that BD film can match the agronomic performance of PE while offering the advantage of environmentally friendly degradation. Further research should optimize BD film durability and assess its cost-effectiveness for large-scale sustainable agriculture. Full article

The practice in agriculture of spreading polyethylene (PE) film over the soil surface as mulch is a common, global practice that aids in conserving water, increasing crop yields, suppressing weed growth, and decreasing growing time. However, these films are typically only used for a single growing season, and thus, their use and non-biodegradability come with some serious environmental consequences due to their persistence in the soil and potential for microplastic pollution, particularly when retrieval and disposal options are poor. On the microscale, particles < 5 mm from degraded films have been observed to disrupt soil structure, impede water and nutrient cycling, and affect soil organisms and plant health. On the macroscale, there are obvious and serious environmental consequences associated with the burning of plastic film and its leakage from poorly managed landfills. To maintain the crop productivity afforded by mulching with PE film while avoiding the environmental downsides, the development and use of biodegradable polymer technologies is being explored. Here, the efficacy of a newly developed, water-dispersible, sprayable, and biodegradable polyester–urethane–urea (PEUU)-based polymer was compared with two commercial PE mulches, non-degradable polyethylene (NPE) and OPE (ox-degradable polyethylene), in a greenhouse tomato growth trial. Water savings and the effects on plant growth and soil characteristics were studied. It was found that PEUU provided similar water savings to the commercial PE-based mulches, up to 30–35%, while showing no deleterious effects on plant growth. The results should be taken as preliminary indications that the sprayable, biodegradable PEUU shows promise as a replacement for PE mulch, with further studies under outside field conditions warranted to assess its cost effectiveness in improving crop yields and, importantly, its longer-term impacts on soil and terrestrial fauna. Full article

Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) is a perennial plant species widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries, particularly valued for its sedative properties. This study investigates the impact of synthetic mulch film and planting density as two experimental factors on agronomic performance, raw material quality, and economic efficiency in lemon balm production. The experiment was conducted at three locations in Serbia (L1: Bačko Novo Selo, L2: Bavanište, L3: Vilandrica) from 2022 to 2024, using two planting densities on synthetic mulch film (F1: 8.3 plants m⁻²; F2: 11.4 plants m⁻²) and a control treatment without mulch (C). The synthetic mulch film used was a synthetic black polypropylene film (Agritela Black, 90 g/m²), uniformly applied in strips across the cultivation area, covering approximately 78% of the soil surface. The results showed consistent increases in morphological parameters and yield across the years. Plant height in F1 and F2 treatments ranged from 65 to 75 cm, while in the control it reached up to 50 cm (2022–2024). Fresh biomass yield varied from 13.4 g per plant (C) to 378.08 g per plant (F2), and dry biomass yield from 60.3 g (C) to 125.4 g (F2). The highest essential oil content was observed in F2 (1.2% in 2022), while the control remained at 0.8%. The F2 treatment achieved complete weed suppression throughout the experiment without the use of herbicides, demonstrating both agronomic and ecological advantages. Economic evaluation revealed that F2 generated the highest cumulative profit (€142,164.5) compared to the control (€65,555.3). Despite higher initial investment, F2 had the most favorable cost–benefit ratio in the long term. This study highlights the crucial influence of mulching and planting density on optimizing lemon balm production across diverse climatic and soil conditions, while also underscoring the importance of sustainable, non-chemical weed management strategies in lemon balm cultivation. Full article

Biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) are considered a promising solution for mitigating plastic residue pollution in agroecosystems. However, the degradation behavior and ecological impacts of their residues on soil–plant systems remain unclear. Here, a pot experiment was conducted using an acidic purple soil (AS), a neutral purple soil (NS), and a calcareous purple soil (CS) to investigate the degradation of 1% (w/w) microplastics derived from polyethylene mulch film (PE-MPs) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate/polylactic acid (PBAT/PLA) mulch film (Bio-MPs), as well as their effects on soil properties, bacterial communities, and radish growth. PE-MPs degraded slightly, while the degradation of Bio-MPs followed the order of NS > CS > AS. PE-MPs and Bio-MPs enhanced the nitrification and radish growth in AS but had no significant effects on soil properties and radish growth in CS. Bio-MPs notably increased the relative abundance of PBAT/PLA degradation-related bacteria, such as Ramlibacter, Bradyrhizobium, and Microbacterium, across the three soils. In NS, Bio-MPs raised soil pH and enriched nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria, leading to a decrease in NO₃⁻-N content and radish biomass. Overall, the effects of Bio-MPs on soil–plant systems varied with soil properties, which are closely related to their degradation rates. These findings highlight the need to assess the ecological risks of BDM residues before their large-scale use in agriculture. Full article

Soil mulching and irrigation are critical practices for alleviating water scarcity and enhancing crop yields in arid and semi-arid regions by regulating soil moisture and soil temperature. Clarifying the effects of various irrigation depths on soil moisture and temperature under mulched condition is essential for optimizing irrigation strategies. This study investigated the effects of four irrigation depths based on crop evapotranspiration (ET_c): 60, 80, 100, and 120% (W_0.6, W_0.8, W_1.0, and W_1.2, respectively) on the soil moisture content (SMC), soil temperature and seed cotton yield in mulched cotton fields. Results revealed that when the irrigation depth increased from 60%ET_c to 120%ET_c, seed cotton yield increased by 12.04% in 2018 and 17.00% in 2019 at the cost of irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), which decreased from 2.53 kg m⁻³ to 1.54 kg m⁻³ in 2018 and 2.60 kg m⁻³ to 1.58 kg m⁻³ in 2019. Soil temperature exhibited a temporal trend of initial increase followed by decline, and it was positively affected by soil mulching. Notably, W_0.6 treatment maintained significantly higher soil temperature than other treatments. Soil moisture content was positively affected by irrigation depth, while soil water storage first decreased and then increased over time, reaching the minimum at the flowering and boll setting stages during the two growing seasons. Higher irrigation amount reduced the total spatial variability (C₀ + C) of soil but did not significantly alter the distribution characteristics of soil moisture, as indicated by stable coefficients of variation (CVs) and stratification ratios (SRs). The variability of soil moisture diminished with soil depth with the lowest CV obtained at a 60 cm soil layer across the growth stages. Correlation analysis results showed that the seed cotton yield was mainly affected by irrigation depth and soil water storage. Soil temperature at the flowering and boll setting stage negatively affected seed cotton yield and was inversely correlated with soil water storage. The structural equation model (SEM) further indicated that both soil water storage and soil temperature primarily influenced seed cotton yield boll weight rather than boll number. Furthermore, 100%ET_c (W_1.0) can be considered as the recommended irrigation depth based on the soil moisture and temperature, seed cotton yield and water use efficiency in this region. Full article

Agricultural production in Northwest China is widely constrained by residual plastic film pollution, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, and low productivity. Integrating biodegradable film with controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer offers a promising approach to optimize crop management, enhance yield, and improve environmental outcomes. In this study, three planting patterns (conventional flat planting, FP; ridge mulching with biodegradable film, BM; and ridge mulching with conventional plastic film, PM), two nitrogen fertilizer types (urea, U, and controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer, C), and four nitrogen application rates (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg·hm⁻²) were applied to systematically investigate their effects on alfalfa yield and N₂O emissions from grasslands. The results showed that BM and PM increased alfalfa yield by 23.49% and 18.65%, respectively, compared to FP, while C increased yield by 8.46% compared to urea. The highest yield (24.84 t·hm⁻²) was recorded under the BMC2 treatment, which was 97.11% higher than that of FPN0. N₂O emission flux and cumulative emissions increased with nitrogen application rate. Compared with U, C reduced cumulative N₂O emissions and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) by 23.89% and 25.84%, respectively. Compared to PM, BM reduced cumulative N₂O emissions and GHGI by 11.58% and 20.15%, respectively. Principal component analysis indicated that the combination of ridge mulching with biodegradable film and 160 kg·hm⁻² of C was optimal for simultaneously increasing alfalfa yield and reducing N₂O emissions, making it a suitable planting–fertilization strategy for the Yellow River irrigation district in Gansu and similar ecological regions. Full article

The main objective of this work was to evaluate new variants of passive heating systems used for horticultural crop cycles planted in the cold period in low-cost greenhouses on the Mediterranean Spanish coast (a mild-winter area). The double low cover (DLC) is variant of the conventional fixed plastic screen that reduces the air volume and increases the airtightness around crops. Three identical DLCs were installed inside a typical greenhouse, and the microclimate measured in the three DLCs was similar. The DLCs reduced the solar radiation transmissivity coefficient by around 0.05 but increased the mean daily substrate and air temperatures (up to 1.6 and 3.6 °C, respectively). They also modified the air humidity, although this can be modulated by opening the vertical sheets located on the greenhouse aisles (DLC vents). The black plastic mulch forming an air chamber around the substrate bags (BMC), a new mulch variant used in substrate-grown crops, increased the substrate temperature with respect to the conventional black mulch covering the entire ground surface. The combination of BMC plus DLC increased the mean daily substrate temperature by up to 2.9 °C, especially at night. Low tunnels covered with transparent film and with a spun-bonded fabric sheet were also compared, and both materials were efficient heating systems regarding substrate and air temperatures. Low tunnels combined with the DLC substantially increased air humidity, but this can be partially offset by opening the DLC vents. The combination of low tunnels and DLC does not seem recommendable for greenhouse crops planted in winter, since both systems reduce solar radiation transmissivity. Full article

Agricultural organic pollutants have been identified as a key factor contributing to amphibian population decline, particularly during early developmental stages when tadpoles are frequently exposed to neonicotinoids (NEOs) and microplastics (MPs). In this study, Hoplobatrachus rugulosus tadpoles were exposed to imidacloprid (IMI: 0.045, 0.45, and 4.5 mg L⁻¹) and polyethylene-derived MPs (10 mg L⁻¹) from agricultural mulch films, both individually and in combination. We systematically evaluated acute toxicity, bioaccumulation, developmental and oxidative stress responses, and changes in the skin and gut microbiota. The results showed that the 96 h median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of IMI was 44.8 mg L⁻¹ in the IMI-only group and was 40.5 mg L⁻¹ in the IMI + MPs group, indicating the negligible impact of MPs on acute toxicity. However, in the highest co-exposure group (IMI4.5 + MPs), tadpole body length and weight decreased by 14.7% and 22.6%, respectively, alongside marked changes in oxidative stress, whereby catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were suppressed, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased by 35%, indicating elevated lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the micronucleus frequency in erythrocytes was significantly elevated, suggesting genotoxic effects. Microbial community analysis revealed significant shifts in the relative abundance of gut and skin microbiota under IMI + MPs exposure, with a notable enrichment of Proteobacteria, Fusarium, Actinomycetota, and Bacteroidota, indicating the disruption of host–microbiome interactions. This study proposes a comprehensive multi-tiered assessment framework encompassing environmental exposure, bioaccumulation, toxicological endpoints, oxidative stress biomarkers, and microbiome shifts. Our findings provide new mechanistic insights and quantitative evidence on the compound threats posed by IMI and MPs to amphibians in aquatic environments. Full article

Biodegradable mulch film (BDM) is regarded as a key solution to combat plastic mulch film pollution due to its ability to degrade completely into CO₂ and H₂O through environmentally friendly microorganisms. However, commercial BDM often fails to degrade fully after use, leading to the accumulation of BDM residues in soil and their transformation into microplastics (MPs) via various processes, posing a threat to the soil ecosystem. Given these discrepancies between the theoretical and practical degradation performance of BDM, there is an urgent need to understand the impacts of BDM residues on plant growth and soil health. This research conducted pot experiments spanning the entire growth cycle of Chinese cabbage to evaluate the impact of PBST-BDM raw material (R), PBST-BDM residues (M), and PBST-BDM composting product (P) on crop growth and soil quality. The findings revealed that R treatments had a slight effect on Chinese cabbage growth (e.g., a 5.80% increase in emergence rate in R 1% treatment, p < 0.05), while M treatments significantly hindered the emergence rate, plant height, leaf area, and biomass accumulation of Chinese cabbage by 30.4% (p < 0.05), 2.71 cm (p < 0.05), 39.0% (p < 0.05), and 1.86 g (p < 0.05) in the M 1% treatment compared to the control group (CK). In contrast, P treatments enhanced Chinese cabbage growth, with greater improvements at higher weight ratios, resulting in increases of 8.89% (p < 0.05), 4.96 cm (p < 0.05), 36.3% (p < 0.05), and 2.31 g (p < 0.05) in the P 1% treatment. Microbial network topology in the M 1% treatment is highly variable, with the increased proportion of positive correlations in the P 1% treatment hinting at stronger symbiotic interactions between species (p < 0.05). Analysis results of PCoA and PLS-DA showed significant differences in microbial community and soil metabolites between M 1% treatment and CK (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that, although composting post-use BDM may reduce their negative ecological effects, possibly via accelerating the early breakdown of residues, the feasibility and scalability of this approach require further validation under real-world field conditions. Full article

Plastic film mulching is widely used in protected agriculture. However, the residues of various types of plastic films, as a consequence, severely affect soil quality. The most widely promoted alternative strategy is the use of biodegradable plastic films. Nevertheless, the research on the effects of different types of plastic films on soil properties remains insufficient. This study explored the impacts of different plastic film mulching on the physicochemical properties and microbial communities of soils for pepper cultivation, with three treatments: traditional polyethylene film (PE-Ctr), PBAT biodegradable film (PBAT bio), and reinforced polyethylene film (RPE). The results showed that the soil pH value was the highest in PE-Ctr treatment, and the soil organic matter content was higher in the biodegradable film treatment, while the electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate, and some cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) were higher in the RPE treatment. The contents of available trace element Zn, Fe, and Mn increased in the PBAT bio treatment. The bacterial richness and evenness indices were higher in PBAT bio treatment than those of other treatments. The fungal community had a relatively high richness, but a lower evenness, compared to the PE-Ctr and PBAT bio treatments. The use of different plastic films significantly affected the composition of soil bacteria, while differences in the composition of soil fungi were only observed between the PBAT bio and RPE treatments. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota were the most dominant bacterial phyla, and Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota were the dominant fungal phylum across all treatments. FAPROTAX functional prediction showed that the abundances of multiple functions of soil bacteria were higher in the RPE treatment, and the chemoheterotrophy function was higher in the PE treatment. FUNGuild analysis indicated that the trophic types and ecological function groups of soil fungi were more abundant in the PBAT bio treatment. Full article

Soil carbon dynamics and microbial communities are critical to soil health. However, the specific effects of mulching on soil microbial community and carbon dynamics in semi-arid rainfed regions remain insufficiently understood. This study aims to identify optimal mulching practices that promote soil carbon sequestration and enhance soil microbial functionality. Mulching treatments were applied in furrows before maize sowing, including black plastic film (TB), white plastic film (TW), straw mulching without sowing (TC), and straw mulching with sowing (TG), and were compared with flat sowing without mulching (TN). Results revealed that TG treatment promoted soil carbon dynamics by increasing total carbon (9%), organic carbon (19%), microbial biomass carbon (100%), easily oxidized carbon (10%), particulate-associated carbon (77%), carbon stability index (7%), active carbon fraction (45%), dissolved carbon proportion (30%), and microbial quotient (34%) compared to TN. A higher abundance and composition of bacterial communities were observed compared to fungal communities. The highest bacterial abundance of Kaistobacter, iii1_15, Sinobacteraceae, and Xanthomonadaceae, and fungal abundance of unspecified fungi, Laiosphaeriaceae, and Sordariomycetes, with the dominant aerobic respiration metabolic pathway involved in organic matter decomposition, were observed in TG and TC. The results indicated that TG treatment most effectively promoted carbon fractions and microbial activity that could strengthen soil health. Full article