Plant species richness increases the relationship between soil microbial and extracellular enzyme activities and enhances soil fertility
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Diverse plant species is crucial for the sustenance of soil health and the facilitation of nutrient cycling by reconstructing the soil microbial communities and improving extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs). However, the impact of plant species combinations on the interactions between soil microbial communities and EEAs remain unclear. It is also unclear whether the enhancement of soil quality is dependent on plant species richness. Therefore, we selected three dominant and seven subdominant plant species from the Ningxia Northern Yanchi Desert Steppe to assess plant species richness (monoculture and 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-species mixtures). We linked EEAs, microbial communities, potential functions, and abiotic factors with soil fertilizer. We found the following: (1) the core microbial taxa remained consistent among different plant species richness levels, although their abundances varied. The 8-species mixtures exhibited the highest number of shared amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) within the bacterial and fungal communities, 1,541 and 143, respectively. (2) Soil EEAs exhibited an inverted “N” pattern as plant species richness increased, with the EEAs of the 8-species mixtures being the highest. (3) Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) predicted 5 primary functions, encompassing 25 secondary functions dominated by bacterial metabolism, and 5 primary functions, encompassing 29 secondary functions dominated by fungal biosynthesis. (4) The Mantel test results demonstrated a strong correlation between soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) acquisition enzyme activities and the functional cellular processes of bacteria. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that plant species richness directly negatively affected soil C, N, and P-acquiring enzyme activities. However, the functional activities of bacterial and fungal communities positively influenced soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) by indirectly regulating EEAs. This study aimed to provide valuable data to support theoretical frameworks for conserving grassland biodiversity and maintaining soil health.
Source: Ecological Indicators
Authors: Xu Luo, Yingzhong Xie, Cui Han, Yaxin Zhao, Ying Zhao, Jianping Li
Institution: Ningxia University
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,650
OpenAlex ID: W4407597887