Differences in Soil Microbial Communities across Soil Types in China’s Temperate Forests

Abstract

Soil microorganisms are a crucial component of forest ecosystems because of their involvement in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient cycling and their influence on plant growth and development. Soil type is a fundamental characteristic of soil. In the transitional forest regions from subtropical to temperate zones in China, various soil types can be found, including yellow-brown soils, brown soils, and cinnamon soils. However, the composition and distribution patterns of soil bacterial and fungal communities in different soil types remain uncertain. This study selected a 4.8-hectare plot in Baiyun Mountain Forest National Park, China. To explore the spatial distribution and ecological processes of soil microbial communities across three different soil types, Illumina sequencing was conducted. Results showed that the composition and assembly of bacterial and fungal communities varied substantially among different soil types. Bacteria were more influenced by environmental factors than fungi. Fungal communities consistently demonstrated greater stability compared to bacterial communities across the three soil types. Light was the main environmental factor driving the variation in the assembly of microbial communities among different soil types. This study demonstrates that there are differences in the composition and structure of soil microbial communities among different soil types, providing important insights into the management and sustainable development of soil microorganisms in temperate forests.