Effect of Light Heterogeneity Caused by Photovoltaic Panels on the Plant–Soil–Microbial System in Solar Park

Abstract

The large-scale construction of photovoltaic (PV) panels causes heterogeneity in environmental factors, such as light, precipitation, and wind speed, which may lead to microhabitat climate changes that may affect ecosystems. In this study, plant–soil–microbial systems in shady and non-shady gaps of PV panels in a solar park in Northern China were investigated. The shading caused by the PV panels significantly affected the alpha diversity of plant and fungal communities (p < 0.05). The compositions of plant and soil microbial (bacteria, fungi, and protists) communities were significantly different between shady and non-shady areas (p < 0.05), and the beta diversity of the plant community was significantly correlated with that of the soil microbial community (p < 0.05). Shading enhanced the complexity of microbial communities by strengthening the associations among soil microbes. Photosynthetically active radiation was the main driving factor in the assembly of aboveground and belowground communities on a small scale, and it indirectly shaped the microbial community through its effects on the plant community. This study highlights the important effects of light on microbial community formation and on the relationships among communities in plant–soil–microbial systems. Thus, the effects of solar park establishment on degraded ecosystems should be considered.

Potential benefits and risks of solar photovoltaic power plants on arid and semi-arid ecosystems: an assessment of soil microbial and plant communities

“…However, the panels did induced alternations in the composition of the soil fungal communities (Adonis test, F = 1.534, p = 0.023) and exhibited suppressive effects on the relative abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) within the SDP and SIP treatments of ( Supplementary Figure S4 ). As AMF establish symbiotic associations with the roots of a wide range of land plants ( Liu et al, 2007 ), these results suggest that the shading effects resulting from the presence of solar panels disrupt the plant-fungus interaction in the soil, primarily mediated by the influence on plant community ( Figure 2 ; Li et al, 2023 ). Moreover, there was a decline in the relative abundances of Acidobacteriota and Myxococcota within the SDP treatment ( Figure 3 ).…”

Soil bacterial community in a photovoltaic system adopted different survival strategies to cope with small-scale light stress under different vegetation restoration modes

“…The large-scale construction of PV panels can cause heterogeneity in environmental factors, such as light, precipitation, and wind speed. This can lead to microhabitat climate changes that may affect ecosystems ( Li C. et al, 2023 ; Li X. et al, 2023 ). The study found that light intensity varied significantly ( p < 0.05) across different locations, with the order being CK > FP > RP > UP.…”

“…In some small-scale habitats, light may be a key factor driving bacterial community aggregation ( Li C. et al, 2023 ; Li X. et al, 2023 ). The correlation between the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and light intensity was significant in the EP sample plot.…”

“…This difference may be attributed to variations in environmental factors and vegetation types in PV sites. The Mantel test and correlation analysis results showed soil nutrients were the key drivers of changes in soil dominant communities, while light had a less direct role in changes in soil dominant bacterial communities, and it indirectly shaped the microbial community through its effects on the plant community ( Li C. et al, 2023 ). The two-factor correlation network analysis revealed that the core SBCs in the EP sample plot were mainly negatively correlated with soil nutrients, while the core soil bacteria species in the LC sample plot were positively correlated with soil nutrients.…”

Bee-Friendly Native Seed Mixtures for the Greening of Solar Parks

“…In general, species covering a wide range of grassland communities can be used. Due to the extensive vegetation management usually implemented in solar parks [23], as well as the partially lower light availability [48,49], species of fringe communities should also be used. In order to ensure year-round maintenance of the technical systems and avoid shading the panels, which could reduce the energy yield, the growth height of the species used must not be higher than the lower edge of the panels [50].…”