Abstract
The diversity and function of surface soil bacterial community in farmland shelterbelts of five forest types and one abandoned wilderness area were analyzed by collecting 36 soil samples at depths of 0–10 cm (the upper soil layer) and 10–20 cm (the lower soil layer), extracting DNA from the samples and amplifying and sequencing the bacterial 16S rDNA V3~V4 region. Dominant bacterial phyla in forest soils included the Actinomycetes, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chlorobacteria, and Bacillus. The number of unique bacterial OTUs (operational taxonomic units) was higher in the upper versus lower soil layer and greater in the abandoned cropland than in the shelterbelts. The number of total bacterial OTUs was highest in the mixed Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica Litv. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. forest. At the phyla level, Actinomycetes showed the greatest variation in abundance among forest types, while at the genus level, Actinoplanes varied most among forest types in the upper soil layer and Krasilnikovia varied most in the lower soil layer. Soil bacteria were more strongly correlated and more intense competition in the upper soil layer than in the lower soil layer; Actinoplanes and Krasilnikovia were key genera in bacterial networks. Functional predictions for bacterial community genes indicated that soil fertility potential was strong in the mixed Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. forest, weak in the mixed Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica Litv. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. forest, and in the Populus×xiaohei forest, and intermediate in the Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. and Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica Litv. forests. This study provides a new theoretical basis for the sustainable management of soil fertility in the agroforestry system.
Highlights
Farmland shelterbelts, an important part of agroforestry systems, are key ecological barriers against severe environmental conditions in northern China, which improve the microclimate of farmland and ensure high and stable crop yields [1]
This study provides a new theoretical basis for the sustainable management of soil fertility in the agroforestry system
Have shown that the distribution of microorganisms can be influenced by environmental heterogeneity and dispersal limitation, but these effects vary with the microbial domain, habitat type, spatial scale, and taxonomic level [41]
Summary
An important part of agroforestry systems, are key ecological barriers against severe environmental conditions in northern China, which improve the microclimate of farmland and ensure high and stable crop yields [1]. Soils in agroforestry systems provide the necessary substrate for the survival and development of farmland shelterbelts. Forest surface soils represent an important habitat for microorganisms, many of which are beneficial and act to enhance nutrient absorption and retention [2,3]. Studies have shown that soil microorganisms can, to some extent, influence plant communities: for example, affecting drought tolerance and hormone levels [4,5], regulating biomass [6], altering reproductive phenology [7], and promoting lignin synthesis and metabolism [8]. Forest root systems interact in complex ways with soil microbial communities [9]. The characteristics of the soil microbial community can respond to changes in soil ecological processes
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