Abstract
Potentilla fruticosa is a typical shrub of alpine meadows with canopy effects that can greatly influence soil fertility and microbiological parameters. Changes in rhizosphere microorganisms can reflect the response of these plants to environmental changes. This study aimed to examine the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of P. fruticosa on the amount of selected microorganisms and main environmental factors at different elevation gradients (3,000, 3,250, 3,500, 3,750, and 4,000 m). The results suggested that bacteria were predominant of the microbial soil community in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere, while fungi and actinomycetes represented the minority. With the increase of altitude, the total amount of microbial, bacteria, and actinomycetes in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of P. fruticosa showed a downward trend, and microbial functional groups showed that the “hump shape” changed, but the fungi showed the opposite. Variance inflation factor (VIF) screening environmental factors and path analysis were obtained. In the rhizosphere soil, bacteria were affected by Soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil bulk density (SBD) became the main environmental limiting factor with the increase of altitude. The main environmental limiting factor of actinomycetes changed from SBD to Soil total (ST). In the non-rhizosphere soil, the bacteria and actinomycetes changed from ST to SOC and SBD, respectively. The main environmental limiting factor of the fungi was SOC in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere. Soil water content (SWC) was the main environmental determinant factor for all microbial groups, microbial functional groups were related to Soil total nitrogen (STN). Our results help to understand the relationship between nutrient cycling and the ecosystem function of alpine meadow plant soil microorganisms and provide theoretical support for alpine meadow ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and the use of microbial resources.
Highlights
The rhizosphere is the narrow zone of soil surrounding the root that is under the immediate influence of the root system [1]
In the non-rhizosphere soil of P. fruticosa, the bacteria and actinomycetes changed from Soil total (ST) to Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil bulk density (SBD), respectively
Bacteria were affected by SOC (3,000 and 3,250 m), and SBD became the main environmental limiting factor (3,500, 3,750, and 4,000 m)
Summary
The rhizosphere is the narrow zone of soil surrounding the root that is under the immediate influence of the root system [1]. Rhizosphere microorganisms play an important role in plant growth, diversity change, and ecosystem function represent the health status of plant growth [4]. As a potential nurse plant, Potentilla fruticosa plays an important role in the natural growth of other species below the canopy [5, 6]. Eisenhauer et al [9] found that plant diversity will increase the biomass and activity of soil microorganisms, affecting the soil carbon and nitrogen cycle, which in turn has a feedback effect on plant communities. Ballantyne and Pickering [11] found in Australia that the Epacris gunnii (nurse plant) can change the composition of plant communities, improve soil fertility, and promote soil quality
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