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Background <p>The conversion of natural forests to plantations has substantially altered soil properties and ecosystem functions. However, the mechanisms by which planted tree species regulate soil abiotic and biotic factors through plant-derived inputs remain poorly understood.</p> Methods <p>A controlled laboratory experiment was conducted with five treatments—root exudates (RE), litter decomposition (LL), leaf leachates (ML), combined inputs (ALL), and control (CK)—to evaluate the regulatory effects of plant-derived inputs on soil. Metagenomic sequencing and physicochemical analyses were used to assess their impacts on soil properties, microbial communities, nutrient cycling genes, and plant growth.</p> Results <p>ML increased nitrate nitrogen (4.09 ± 0.48&#xa0;mg/kg) while decreased ammonium nitrogen (18.41 ± 1.92&#xa0;mg/kg), exacerbating soil acidification. In contrast, LL increased ammonium nitrogen (39.60 ± 3.08&#xa0;mg/kg) and decreased nitrate nitrogen (2.54 ± 0.34&#xa0;mg/kg), mitigating acidification. Soil pH explained 51% of the variation in microbial community composition. Microbial diversity was lowest in RE and highest in LL. Plant-derived inputs increased the abundance of microbial functional genes, with LL primarily influencing carbon and nitrogen cycling, while ML and RE enhanced phosphorus cycling. Microbial communities significantly impacted herbaceous plant growth, but no effects were observed on woody plants under controlled conditions without plant competition.</p> Conclusions <p>These results highlight the distinct roles of plant-derived inputs in shaping soil properties and microbial communities. Managing these inputs, particularly by promoting litter decomposition, can mitigate soil acidification, enhance microbial diversity, and support sustainable plantation management. Future research should incorporate field-based ecological interactions to further refine these findings.</p>

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Plant-derived inputs drive soil microbial and nutrient dynamics in subalpine Picea asperata plantations

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月22日

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  • Mei Zhao,
  • Jia Liu,
  • Xiao-Kang Hu,
  • Wen Shi,
  • Xian-Lin Guo,
  • Xiao-Ying Zhang,
  • Kai Fang

摘要

Background

The conversion of natural forests to plantations has substantially altered soil properties and ecosystem functions. However, the mechanisms by which planted tree species regulate soil abiotic and biotic factors through plant-derived inputs remain poorly understood.

Methods

A controlled laboratory experiment was conducted with five treatments—root exudates (RE), litter decomposition (LL), leaf leachates (ML), combined inputs (ALL), and control (CK)—to evaluate the regulatory effects of plant-derived inputs on soil. Metagenomic sequencing and physicochemical analyses were used to assess their impacts on soil properties, microbial communities, nutrient cycling genes, and plant growth.

Results

ML increased nitrate nitrogen (4.09 ± 0.48 mg/kg) while decreased ammonium nitrogen (18.41 ± 1.92 mg/kg), exacerbating soil acidification. In contrast, LL increased ammonium nitrogen (39.60 ± 3.08 mg/kg) and decreased nitrate nitrogen (2.54 ± 0.34 mg/kg), mitigating acidification. Soil pH explained 51% of the variation in microbial community composition. Microbial diversity was lowest in RE and highest in LL. Plant-derived inputs increased the abundance of microbial functional genes, with LL primarily influencing carbon and nitrogen cycling, while ML and RE enhanced phosphorus cycling. Microbial communities significantly impacted herbaceous plant growth, but no effects were observed on woody plants under controlled conditions without plant competition.

Conclusions

These results highlight the distinct roles of plant-derived inputs in shaping soil properties and microbial communities. Managing these inputs, particularly by promoting litter decomposition, can mitigate soil acidification, enhance microbial diversity, and support sustainable plantation management. Future research should incorporate field-based ecological interactions to further refine these findings.