Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106817
Meng Meng , Xiangning Yang , Bingna Wang , Haoyan Li , Chuan Lu , Jiahuan Li , Jiyun Yang , Long Bai , Yulong Feng , Baihui Ren
Plant-soil feedback (PSF) is a critical driver of plant invasion; however, the mechanisms by which soil microbes mediate PSF under combined nitrogen deposition and drought remain poorly understood. This study investigated the microbial mechanisms underlying the invasion success of Cenchrus pauciflorus Benth. (C. pauciflorus) under interactive water regimes and nitrogen forms, using a greenhouse PSF experiment with its co-occurring native congener Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.. Soil microbial communities were characterized via high-throughput sequencing and co-occurrence network analysis to identify keystone taxa regulating PSF dynamics. Our results showed that C. pauciflorus exploited the synergistic effects of drought and nitrogen deposition to restructure stress-adapted soil fungal communities. Under resource-limited conditions, C. pauciflorus selectively enriched stress-tolerant saprotrophic fungi and facultative animal pathogens, forming a modular microbial network that enhanced nitrogen mineralization efficiency and pathogen-mediated suppression of S. viridis. While homospecific soil amplified negative PSF on the native plant, C. pauciflorus mitigated self-inhibition through ammonium‑nitrogen-driven suppression of pathogenic fungi. Crucially, drought shifted fungal functional guilds toward saprotrophic dominance, which synergistically intensified allelopathic competition via accelerated litter decomposition. These findings reveal that invasive plants employed “microbial niche construction” strategies by coupling nitrogen-form specialization with stress-induced rhizosphere microbiome reprogramming, thereby establishing self-reinforcing invasion feedback loops. This study provides mechanistic insights into PSF dynamics under global change scenarios and underscores the potential of targeted root microbiome engineering for invasive species management.
{"title":"Drought-nitrogen synergy reshapes stress-adapted fungal consortia via plant-soil feedback in invasive plant Cenchrus pauciflorus","authors":"Meng Meng , Xiangning Yang , Bingna Wang , Haoyan Li , Chuan Lu , Jiahuan Li , Jiyun Yang , Long Bai , Yulong Feng , Baihui Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106817","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106817","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant-soil feedback (PSF) is a critical driver of plant invasion; however, the mechanisms by which soil microbes mediate PSF under combined nitrogen deposition and drought remain poorly understood. This study investigated the microbial mechanisms underlying the invasion success of <em>Cenchrus pauciflorus</em> Benth. (<em>C. pauciflorus</em>) under interactive water regimes and nitrogen forms, using a greenhouse PSF experiment with its co-occurring native congener <em>Setaria viridis</em> (L.) Beauv.. Soil microbial communities were characterized via high-throughput sequencing and co-occurrence network analysis to identify keystone taxa regulating PSF dynamics. Our results showed that <em>C. pauciflorus</em> exploited the synergistic effects of drought and nitrogen deposition to restructure stress-adapted soil fungal communities. Under resource-limited conditions, <em>C. pauciflorus</em> selectively enriched stress-tolerant saprotrophic fungi and facultative animal pathogens, forming a modular microbial network that enhanced nitrogen mineralization efficiency and pathogen-mediated suppression of <em>S. viridis</em>. While homospecific soil amplified negative PSF on the native plant, <em>C. pauciflorus</em> mitigated self-inhibition through ammonium‑nitrogen-driven suppression of pathogenic fungi. Crucially, drought shifted fungal functional guilds toward saprotrophic dominance, which synergistically intensified allelopathic competition via accelerated litter decomposition. These findings reveal that invasive plants employed “microbial niche construction” strategies by coupling nitrogen-form specialization with stress-induced rhizosphere microbiome reprogramming, thereby establishing self-reinforcing invasion feedback loops. This study provides mechanistic insights into PSF dynamics under global change scenarios and underscores the potential of targeted root microbiome engineering for invasive species management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106817"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106781
Man Hu , Yunlong Cai , Zonglin Shi , Tianrui Zhai , Hui Zhang , Lianhao Zhou , Jun Li , Quan Zhou , Quanchao Zeng
Intensive agricultural management significantly alters soil microbial community properties. However, the microbial mechanisms underlying the evolution of the priming effect (PE) through changes in the diversity and composition of active bacterial communities under long-term high-intensity cultivation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated soils with different citrus planting durations, using natural forest soil as a control. By combining 13C- and 12C-DNA separation with high-throughput sequencing, we explored the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) priming and the role of active bacterial communities under varying citrus cultivation durations. The results showed that following 13C-glucose addition, both species richness and diversity of active bacterial communities significantly decreased with increasing citrus planting duration and incubation time. The bacterial community structure was altered, with a pronounced shift in life-history strategies from r-strategists to K-strategists. In natural forest and 10-year citrus soils, members of Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria were strongly activated by exogenous organic carbon, with their relative abundances significantly increasing. However, in 30-year citrus soils, the response trend was reversed. The transformation of forest to intensively cultivated citrus orchards altered the priming effect and SOC mineralization process, primarily regulated by synergistic interactions among Proteobacteria (e.g., Allorhizobium, Neorhizobium, Pararhizobium and Rhizobium) and Actinobacteriota genera (e.g., Agromyces and Streptomyces). Overall, under 13C-glucose input, citrus orchard soils exhibited shifts in glucose and SOC utilization strategies due to interactions among active bacterial taxa, resulting in progressively enhanced suppression of SOC mineralization with longer planting durations and incubation time. These findings contribute to understanding the potential dynamics of SOC under global change and provide theoretical support for land management strategies aimed at improving soil health and ecosystem services.
{"title":"Microbial interaction strategies of active bacteria shape carbon priming in intensively managed citrus orchard soils","authors":"Man Hu , Yunlong Cai , Zonglin Shi , Tianrui Zhai , Hui Zhang , Lianhao Zhou , Jun Li , Quan Zhou , Quanchao Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensive agricultural management significantly alters soil microbial community properties. However, the microbial mechanisms underlying the evolution of the priming effect (PE) through changes in the diversity and composition of active bacterial communities under long-term high-intensity cultivation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated soils with different citrus planting durations, using natural forest soil as a control. By combining <sup>13</sup>C- and <sup>12</sup>C-DNA separation with high-throughput sequencing, we explored the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) priming and the role of active bacterial communities under varying citrus cultivation durations. The results showed that following <sup>13</sup>C-glucose addition, both species richness and diversity of active bacterial communities significantly decreased with increasing citrus planting duration and incubation time. The bacterial community structure was altered, with a pronounced shift in life-history strategies from r-strategists to K-strategists. In natural forest and 10-year citrus soils, members of Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria were strongly activated by exogenous organic carbon, with their relative abundances significantly increasing. However, in 30-year citrus soils, the response trend was reversed. The transformation of forest to intensively cultivated citrus orchards altered the priming effect and SOC mineralization process, primarily regulated by synergistic interactions among Proteobacteria (e.g., Allorhizobium, Neorhizobium, Pararhizobium and Rhizobium) and Actinobacteriota genera (e.g., Agromyces and Streptomyces). Overall, under <sup>13</sup>C-glucose input, citrus orchard soils exhibited shifts in glucose and SOC utilization strategies due to interactions among active bacterial taxa, resulting in progressively enhanced suppression of SOC mineralization with longer planting durations and incubation time. These findings contribute to understanding the potential dynamics of SOC under global change and provide theoretical support for land management strategies aimed at improving soil health and ecosystem services.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106781"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106811
Xiyu Xiang , Yan Chen , Yanyan Lu , Jiahui Chen , Haiyang Zhang , Huiying Zhao , Shuchen Sun , Sheng Zhai , Xiaofei Tian
Biochar application can improve soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, the microbial mechanism governing soil C pool stability with biochar application at the aggregate level remains uncertain. Therefore, a 5-year field experiment with conventional fertilization (CF), conventional fertilization and biochar (CFB), and a control treatment without fertilizer and biochar application (CK) was conducted. Results showed that biochar amendment increased soil organic C (SOC) contents and C pool stability, and modified functional microbes participate in soil C cycling genes in all aggregate sizes. Compared with CF treatment, the proportion of aromatic/aliphatic fraction of SOC in the CFB treatment increased by 28.72%, 57.58%, and 36.38% in macroaggregates, microaggregates, and silt-clay particles, respectively. Biochar application also altered the relative abundance of predominant bacteria phyla related to soil C cycle, i.e., Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes phyla, especially in microaggregates and silt-clay particles. Additionally, the expression of functional genes related to soil C sequestration (PCCA, MUT, and acs) and degradation (pulA, pectinesterase, bglX, bglB) was enriched with biochar addition in all aggregate fractions, but the predominant mechanisms varied with aggregate size. In addition to the chemical structure of biochar itself, the enhanced physical protection may dominate the C pool stability in macroaggregates, while the altered composition and C cycle genes in the bacterial community did so in microaggregates. Overall, our study provides new insight into the mechanism of biochar in governing SOC pool stability in aggregate.
{"title":"Biochar amendments enhanced organic carbon pool stability in soil aggregates by regulating soil carbon functional microbes","authors":"Xiyu Xiang , Yan Chen , Yanyan Lu , Jiahui Chen , Haiyang Zhang , Huiying Zhao , Shuchen Sun , Sheng Zhai , Xiaofei Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biochar application can improve soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, the microbial mechanism governing soil C pool stability with biochar application at the aggregate level remains uncertain. Therefore, a 5-year field experiment with conventional fertilization (CF), conventional fertilization and biochar (CFB), and a control treatment without fertilizer and biochar application (CK) was conducted. Results showed that biochar amendment increased soil organic C (SOC) contents and C pool stability, and modified functional microbes participate in soil C cycling genes in all aggregate sizes. Compared with CF treatment, the proportion of aromatic/aliphatic fraction of SOC in the CFB treatment increased by 28.72%, 57.58%, and 36.38% in macroaggregates, microaggregates, and silt-clay particles, respectively. Biochar application also altered the relative abundance of predominant bacteria phyla related to soil C cycle, i.e., <em>Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes</em> phyla, especially in microaggregates and silt-clay particles. Additionally, the expression of functional genes related to soil C sequestration (<em>PCCA, MUT</em>, and <em>acs</em>) and degradation (<em>pulA</em>, <em>pectinesterase</em>, <em>bglX</em>, <em>bglB</em>) was enriched with biochar addition in all aggregate fractions, but the predominant mechanisms varied with aggregate size. In addition to the chemical structure of biochar itself, the enhanced physical protection may dominate the C pool stability in macroaggregates, while the altered composition and C cycle genes in the bacterial community did so in microaggregates. Overall, our study provides new insight into the mechanism of biochar in governing SOC pool stability in aggregate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106811"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106772
Tingting Zhao , Yudi M. Lozano , Guanlin Li , Daniel R. Lammel , John F. Quensen , Matthias C. Rillig
Microplastic pollution is a global environmental concern in terrestrial ecosystems, yet less is known about microplastic effects on nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities and rhizobia nodulation, the interactions between bacterial communities, nodulation, and soil properties, and how these effects influence plant growth. To address this gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment using red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) as a phytometer grown in soils amended with microplastic fibres (polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene; 0.4 % w/w). At harvest, we assessed soil physicochemical properties, total and nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities, nodulation, root traits, and plant growth. Our results show that the effects of microplastics ranged from positive to negative on these parameters, as a function of polymer type. For example, polyamide and polypropylene impacted positively soil carbon (10.38 % and 11.48 %, respectively) but negatively specific root length (51.73 % and 58.63 %, respectively), whereas polyester negatively affected both soil aggregation (17.93 %) and nodule number (71.11 %). Relative importance analysis revealed that soil nitrogen, root and nodule mass, and the abundance of Azospirillum and Pelobacter were the strongest predictors of shoot growth. Microplastics further modified the direction and strength of correlations among root, soil, and microbial variables, for instance, most necessarily converting the weak association between shoot mass and Azospirillum abundance into a strong positive relationship. These findings reveal that microplastics restructure plant–soil–microbe interactions by altering nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities and nodulation, emphasizing the complex, context-dependent interactions within the plant–soil–microbe system and highlighting the importance of considering microplastic polymer-specific effects when assessing their ecological impact.
{"title":"Microplastics disrupt the nitrogen-fixing bacterial community with consequences for plant growth","authors":"Tingting Zhao , Yudi M. Lozano , Guanlin Li , Daniel R. Lammel , John F. Quensen , Matthias C. Rillig","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastic pollution is a global environmental concern in terrestrial ecosystems, yet less is known about microplastic effects on nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities and rhizobia nodulation, the interactions between bacterial communities, nodulation, and soil properties, and how these effects influence plant growth. To address this gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment using red clover (<em>Trifolium pratense</em> L.) as a phytometer grown in soils amended with microplastic fibres (polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene; 0.4 % <em>w</em>/w). At harvest, we assessed soil physicochemical properties, total and nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities, nodulation, root traits, and plant growth. Our results show that the effects of microplastics ranged from positive to negative on these parameters, as a function of polymer type. For example, polyamide and polypropylene impacted positively soil carbon (10.38 % and 11.48 %, respectively) but negatively specific root length (51.73 % and 58.63 %, respectively), whereas polyester negatively affected both soil aggregation (17.93 %) and nodule number (71.11 %). Relative importance analysis revealed that soil nitrogen, root and nodule mass, and the abundance of <em>Azospirillum</em> and <em>Pelobacter</em> were the strongest predictors of shoot growth. Microplastics further modified the direction and strength of correlations among root, soil, and microbial variables, for instance, most necessarily converting the weak association between shoot mass and <em>Azospirillum</em> abundance into a strong positive relationship. These findings reveal that microplastics restructure plant–soil–microbe interactions by altering nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities and nodulation, emphasizing the complex, context-dependent interactions within the plant–soil–microbe system and highlighting the importance of considering microplastic polymer-specific effects when assessing their ecological impact.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106772"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106809
Xue Qin , Tiegen Bai , Kui Huang , Yali Huang , Zaixing Li , Changxiong Zhu , Jungang Ding , Menglu Li
The rapid expansion of soil salinization poses a major threat to maize sustainable cultivation. Although vermicompost (VC) has emerged as a promising organic amendment, the mechanisms by which it enhances productivity in saline-alkali soils are not well understood. In a field-pot experiment, five application rates of VC (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% w/w) were investigated by assessing soil chemical properties, aggregate stability, microbial community composition and their relationships with maize growth. The results showed that compared with the 0% VC (CK), the 3% VC treatment performed the most significant increases in maize yield (33.8%), aboveground biomass (18.2%), plant height (9.6%), and chlorophyll content (9.7%) (P < 0.05). In contrast to the CK, soil organic matter, alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available phosphorus in 3% VC treatment increased by 52.4%, 44.3% and 140.1%, respectively, while electrical conductivity declined by 6.1%. Enhanced aggregate stability was observed in the 3% VC treatment, displaying a 9.4% rise in large aggregates (>2 mm) and an increase in mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter. Moreover, compared to CK, VC application reshaped bacterial community structure, with the dominant phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria exhibiting dose-responsive shifts. At the genus level, the relative abundance of unclassified_Geminicoccaceae increased by 42.1%, while that of Nocardioides decreased by 17.7% under 3% VC treatment. PLS-PM identified bacterial communities as the principal drivers of yield enhancement by promoting aggregate formation and plant growth. This study reveals that a 3% VC amendment optimizes maize productivity in saline-alkali soils by driving a synergy of improved soil structure, microbial shifts and nutrient cycling. These findings elucidate the underlying mechanisms and provide a scientific basis for managing saline-alkali soils to enhance maize productivity sustainably.
{"title":"Effects of vermicompost on maize growth, soil aggregate stability, and microbial community dynamics in saline-alkali soil","authors":"Xue Qin , Tiegen Bai , Kui Huang , Yali Huang , Zaixing Li , Changxiong Zhu , Jungang Ding , Menglu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid expansion of soil salinization poses a major threat to maize sustainable cultivation. Although vermicompost (VC) has emerged as a promising organic amendment, the mechanisms by which it enhances productivity in saline-alkali soils are not well understood. In a field-pot experiment, five application rates of VC (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% <em>w</em>/w) were investigated by assessing soil chemical properties, aggregate stability, microbial community composition and their relationships with maize growth. The results showed that compared with the 0% VC (CK), the 3% VC treatment performed the most significant increases in maize yield (33.8%), aboveground biomass (18.2%), plant height (9.6%), and chlorophyll content (9.7%) (<em>P</em> < 0.05). In contrast to the CK, soil organic matter, alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available phosphorus in 3% VC treatment increased by 52.4%, 44.3% and 140.1%, respectively, while electrical conductivity declined by 6.1%. Enhanced aggregate stability was observed in the 3% VC treatment, displaying a 9.4% rise in large aggregates (>2 mm) and an increase in mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter. Moreover, compared to CK, VC application reshaped bacterial community structure, with the dominant phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria exhibiting dose-responsive shifts. At the genus level, the relative abundance of <em>unclassified_Geminicoccaceae</em> increased by 42.1%, while that of <em>Nocardioides</em> decreased by 17.7% under 3% VC treatment. PLS-PM identified bacterial communities as the principal drivers of yield enhancement by promoting aggregate formation and plant growth. This study reveals that a 3% VC amendment optimizes maize productivity in saline-alkali soils by driving a synergy of improved soil structure, microbial shifts and nutrient cycling. These findings elucidate the underlying mechanisms and provide a scientific basis for managing saline-alkali soils to enhance maize productivity sustainably.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106809"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106808
Jie Liu , Lin Yang , Jie Wang , Lei Zhang , Yongqi Qian , Ren Wei , Wenkai Cui , Chenghu Zhou
Cropland soil organic carbon (SOC) is a vital component of the global carbon cycle. At the same time, the expansion of adjacent planted forests, driven by their ecological benefits, further shapes regional carbon dynamics. This offers a pivotal research opportunity to investigate divergences in SOC and its fractions, as well as carbon formation and stabilization mechanisms in croplands and planted forests converted from croplands. Elucidating divergent influencing mechanisms of SOC and its fractions between croplands and planted forests is critical to deciphering different land-use impacts on carbon storage and optimizing land-use-specific carbon sequestration management under global warming. We collected 39 paired cropland-planted forest soil samples in a major grain-producing region of Eastern China, and used piecewise structural equation modeling and random forest modeling to quantify and compare the effects of physical carbon parameters, microbial-derived carbon (MDC), and biotic-abiotic drivers on SOC and its fractions between croplands and adjacent planted forests. Croplands exhibited significantly higher SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) contents than planted forests, exceeding forest levels by 34%, 68%, and 25%, respectively. Compared to planted forests, croplands had a higher POC proportion but a lower MAOC proportion. Furthermore, the dominant drivers of SOC, POC, and MAOC shifted from biotic factors in croplands to abiotic factors in planted forests. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exhibited a stronger positive contribution to SOC accumulation in croplands than in planted forests. Fungal necromass carbon (FNC) contributed more to SOC, POC, and MAOC than bacterial necromass carbon (BNC) in croplands, but the opposite was true in planted forests. Collectively, planted forests exhibited lower but more stable SOC compared to croplands, demonstrating greater sensitivity to abiotic drivers and stronger MAOC dominance (constituting 78.85% of total SOC). Conversely, cropland SOC was primarily regulated by biotic drivers and MDC inputs. Therefore, land-use-specific management is essential to maximize the complementary carbon sequestration potentials of croplands and planted forests, thereby enhancing global SOC accumulation and stabilization.
{"title":"Microbial-mediated shifts regulate the trade-off between soil organic carbon content and stability after cropland afforestation in Eastern China","authors":"Jie Liu , Lin Yang , Jie Wang , Lei Zhang , Yongqi Qian , Ren Wei , Wenkai Cui , Chenghu Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cropland soil organic carbon (SOC) is a vital component of the global carbon cycle. At the same time, the expansion of adjacent planted forests, driven by their ecological benefits, further shapes regional carbon dynamics. This offers a pivotal research opportunity to investigate divergences in SOC and its fractions, as well as carbon formation and stabilization mechanisms in croplands and planted forests converted from croplands. Elucidating divergent influencing mechanisms of SOC and its fractions between croplands and planted forests is critical to deciphering different land-use impacts on carbon storage and optimizing land-use-specific carbon sequestration management under global warming. We collected 39 paired cropland-planted forest soil samples in a major grain-producing region of Eastern China, and used piecewise structural equation modeling and random forest modeling to quantify and compare the effects of physical carbon parameters, microbial-derived carbon (MDC), and biotic-abiotic drivers on SOC and its fractions between croplands and adjacent planted forests. Croplands exhibited significantly higher SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) contents than planted forests, exceeding forest levels by 34%, 68%, and 25%, respectively. Compared to planted forests, croplands had a higher POC proportion but a lower MAOC proportion. Furthermore, the dominant drivers of SOC, POC, and MAOC shifted from biotic factors in croplands to abiotic factors in planted forests. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exhibited a stronger positive contribution to SOC accumulation in croplands than in planted forests. Fungal necromass carbon (FNC) contributed more to SOC, POC, and MAOC than bacterial necromass carbon (BNC) in croplands, but the opposite was true in planted forests. Collectively, planted forests exhibited lower but more stable SOC compared to croplands, demonstrating greater sensitivity to abiotic drivers and stronger MAOC dominance (constituting 78.85% of total SOC). Conversely, cropland SOC was primarily regulated by biotic drivers and MDC inputs. Therefore, land-use-specific management is essential to maximize the complementary carbon sequestration potentials of croplands and planted forests, thereby enhancing global SOC accumulation and stabilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106808"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Microorganisms drive the biochemical processes underlying litter decomposition, yet microbial successional patterns in canopy-decomposing litter remain far less understood than those on the forest floor. We conducted a 24-month litterbag experiment using foliar litter of Castanopsis (Castanopsis carlesii) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) in both canopy and forest floor of subtropical forests. We employed phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis to quantify microbial biomass, community composition, and diversity during decomposition, and assessed litter chemical traits, enzyme activities, and environmental variables to identify key drivers. Clear successional trends emerged across habitats: microbial biomass declined while diversity increased as decomposition progressed. Fir needle litter decomposed slightly more slowly in the canopy than on the forest floor (22% vs 27% mass loss), whereas Castanopsis broadleaf litter showed no significant difference between habitats. Total microbial biomass was, on average, 30% higher in canopy-decomposing litter, whereas microbial diversity was 8% lower in canopy communities. Forest floor microbial biomass was primarily driven by litter nutrient availability, while canopy microbial communities were shaped by carbon substrate availability and mean annual temperature (MAT), and negatively affected by trace metal concentrations and enzymatic stress. These findings highlight that decomposition habitat and litter quality jointly regulate microbial successional dynamics and thereby influence decomposition trajectories. Importantly, canopy-decomposing litter retains substantial microbial biomass despite environmental constraints and plays a critical role in forest carbon cycling. Our study underscores the need to integrate canopy decomposition processes and microbial functional traits into broader models of forest ecosystem functioning.
{"title":"Succession of litter-decomposing microbial communities differs between canopy and forest floor in subtropical forests","authors":"Hongrong Guo , Kai Yue , Xiangyin Ni , Xiaoyue Zhang , Wentao Wei , Guiqing Zhu , Yaoyi Zhang , Fuzhong Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microorganisms drive the biochemical processes underlying litter decomposition, yet microbial successional patterns in canopy-decomposing litter remain far less understood than those on the forest floor. We conducted a 24-month litterbag experiment using foliar litter of <em>Castanopsis</em> (<em>Castanopsis carlesii</em>) and Chinese fir (<em>Cunninghamia lanceolata</em>) in both canopy and forest floor of subtropical forests. We employed phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis to quantify microbial biomass, community composition, and diversity during decomposition, and assessed litter chemical traits, enzyme activities, and environmental variables to identify key drivers. Clear successional trends emerged across habitats: microbial biomass declined while diversity increased as decomposition progressed. Fir needle litter decomposed slightly more slowly in the canopy than on the forest floor (22% vs 27% mass loss), whereas <em>Castanopsis</em> broadleaf litter showed no significant difference between habitats. Total microbial biomass was, on average, 30% higher in canopy-decomposing litter, whereas microbial diversity was 8% lower in canopy communities. Forest floor microbial biomass was primarily driven by litter nutrient availability, while canopy microbial communities were shaped by carbon substrate availability and mean annual temperature (MAT), and negatively affected by trace metal concentrations and enzymatic stress. These findings highlight that decomposition habitat and litter quality jointly regulate microbial successional dynamics and thereby influence decomposition trajectories. Importantly, canopy-decomposing litter retains substantial microbial biomass despite environmental constraints and plays a critical role in forest carbon cycling. Our study underscores the need to integrate canopy decomposition processes and microbial functional traits into broader models of forest ecosystem functioning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106803"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106807
Shanshan Zhao , Lan Li , Jianing Sun , Jingyu Hu , Wu Liu , Xin Cheng , Dan Zhou , Bo Cheng
The co-occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals in agricultural soils poses a complex ecological risk, yet the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and vanadium (V) under different pollution legacies remain poorly understood. This study investigated the interactive effects of PE-MPs at two concentrations (0.1% and 1% (w/w)) and two particle sizes (100-mesh and 1000-mesh) and V on soil properties, microbial community structure, enzyme activities, V fractions, and plant uptake in two soils with distinct native pollution backgrounds. Results revealed that PE-MPs altered soil properties and V fate in a strongly background-dependent manner. Despite increasing soil pH by up to 0.45 units in the LV1 treatment, PE-MPs suppressed both microbial diversity (e.g., Shannon index decreased by 8.9%) and soil sucrase activity. Conversely, in MV2, PE-MPs decreased pH and enhanced enzyme activities (e.g., urease increased 1.7-fold). PE-MPs differentially modulated V bioavailability: the acid-soluble fraction decreased in LV1 but increased in MV2. Consequently, V accumulation in maize organs varied: in MV2, 1% PE-MPs increased V in leaves by >80%, whereas in LV1, the promoting effect was minimal or even suppressive. These findings underscore that the ecological impact of MPs in co-contaminated systems is not intrinsic but is decisively shaped by the soil's pollution history. This highlights the necessity of incorporating native contamination levels into ecological risk assessments to develop targeted and effective management strategies for agricultural soils under complex pollution scenarios.
{"title":"Soil bacterial community and vanadium fate shaped by co-exposure to polyethylene microplastics and native vanadium pollution","authors":"Shanshan Zhao , Lan Li , Jianing Sun , Jingyu Hu , Wu Liu , Xin Cheng , Dan Zhou , Bo Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The co-occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals in agricultural soils poses a complex ecological risk, yet the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and vanadium (V) under different pollution legacies remain poorly understood. This study investigated the interactive effects of PE-MPs at two concentrations (0.1% and 1% (<em>w</em>/w)) and two particle sizes (100-mesh and 1000-mesh) and V on soil properties, microbial community structure, enzyme activities, V fractions, and plant uptake in two soils with distinct native pollution backgrounds. Results revealed that PE-MPs altered soil properties and V fate in a strongly background-dependent manner. Despite increasing soil pH by up to 0.45 units in the LV1 treatment, PE-MPs suppressed both microbial diversity (e.g., Shannon index decreased by 8.9%) and soil sucrase activity. Conversely, in MV2, PE-MPs decreased pH and enhanced enzyme activities (e.g., urease increased 1.7-fold). PE-MPs differentially modulated V bioavailability: the acid-soluble fraction decreased in LV1 but increased in MV2. Consequently, V accumulation in maize organs varied: in MV2, 1% PE-MPs increased V in leaves by >80%, whereas in LV1, the promoting effect was minimal or even suppressive. These findings underscore that the ecological impact of MPs in co-contaminated systems is not intrinsic but is decisively shaped by the soil's pollution history. This highlights the necessity of incorporating native contamination levels into ecological risk assessments to develop targeted and effective management strategies for agricultural soils under complex pollution scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106807"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106802
Pietro Greco Lucchina , Valentina Catania , Daniele Di Trapani , Elisa Maria Petta , Laura Sciré Calabrisotto , Giovanni Vinti , Paola Quatrini , Gaspare Viviani
Bioremediation is considered a safe, economical and environmentally friendly approach for the treatment of contaminated soils. In this study, two aerobic biostimulation processes, landfarming (LF) and bioventing (BV), associated with nutrient addition (N) and followed by bioaugmentation (BA), were compared to assess the remediation of a contaminated soil. The experimental study was conducted over a 180-day period, with 120 days of biostimulation followed by 60 days of bioaugmentation, with a selected consortium of hydrocarbon (HC) degrading Actinobacteria, for 60 days. Microbiological analyses were carried out to characterize the diversity and composition of the microbial communities by cultivation on HC, and by 16S rDNA Illumina-MiSeq sequencing. Total petroleum HC (TPH), measured by Gas-Chromatography FID, was progressively reduced up to 40.8% in the LFNBA microcosm, after 180 days of landfarming and nutrient biostimulation followed by bioaugmentation. The quality of the treated soil was assessed by a phytotoxicity test that confirmed a progressive reduction of phytotoxicity. The contaminated soil was dominated by Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria. HC degrading bacteria were isolated and identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. After 180 days of treatment, an increase of Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Bacilli in BV microcosms was observed, while TM7–3 and Gammaproteobacteria phyla increased in LF treatment. More than 40% of the bacteria detected in LF and BV microcosms were affiliated to HC degrading genera. Molecular investigations confirmed the presence of the alkane monooxygenase encoding gene, alkB for alkane biodegradation. The achieved results showed the feasibility of biostimulation coupled with bioaugmentation for the removal of hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.
{"title":"Sequential biostimulation and bioaugmentation treatments of a diesel-contaminated soil: effect on hydrocarbon degradation and soil bacterial communities","authors":"Pietro Greco Lucchina , Valentina Catania , Daniele Di Trapani , Elisa Maria Petta , Laura Sciré Calabrisotto , Giovanni Vinti , Paola Quatrini , Gaspare Viviani","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106802","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106802","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioremediation is considered a safe, economical and environmentally friendly approach for the treatment of contaminated soils. In this study, two aerobic biostimulation processes, landfarming (LF) and bioventing (BV), associated with nutrient addition (N) and followed by bioaugmentation (BA), were compared to assess the remediation of a contaminated soil. The experimental study was conducted over a 180-day period, with 120 days of biostimulation followed by 60 days of bioaugmentation, with a selected consortium of hydrocarbon (HC) degrading Actinobacteria, for 60 days. Microbiological analyses were carried out to characterize the diversity and composition of the microbial communities by cultivation on HC, and by 16S rDNA Illumina-MiSeq sequencing. Total petroleum HC (TPH), measured by Gas-Chromatography FID, was progressively reduced up to 40.8% in the LF<sub>NBA</sub> microcosm, after 180 days of landfarming and nutrient biostimulation followed by bioaugmentation. The quality of the treated soil was assessed by a phytotoxicity test that confirmed a progressive reduction of phytotoxicity. The contaminated soil was dominated by Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria. HC degrading bacteria were isolated and identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. After 180 days of treatment, an increase of Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Bacilli in BV microcosms was observed, while TM7–3 and Gammaproteobacteria phyla increased in LF treatment. More than 40% of the bacteria detected in LF and BV microcosms were affiliated to HC degrading genera. Molecular investigations confirmed the presence of the alkane monooxygenase encoding gene, <em>alkB</em> for alkane biodegradation. The achieved results showed the feasibility of biostimulation coupled with bioaugmentation for the removal of hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106802"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106800
Théo Marchand , Matthieu Chauvat , Estelle Forey , Florence Maunoury-Danger , Mathieu Santonja , Michaël Danger , Philippe Usseglio-Polatera , David Baqué , Frédéric Candaudap , Sophia V. Hansson , Frédéric Julien , Christophe Laplanche , Gaël Le Roux , Virginie Baldy , Raphaël Gros , Benjamin Pey
Addressing the factors underlying community patterns is a crucial endeavor as it contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, as well as the associated ecosystem services. For example, detritivore communities play a major role in decomposition processes and related matter and energy fluxes in ecosystems. However, compared to living plant resources, leaf litter resources are nutritionally poor, with low macroelement concentrations. Although detritivore communities are known to depend on the local leaf litter resources, it remains unclear whether the chemical composition of detritivores depends on the locally available leaf litter. The macroelement composition of detritivores is rarely studied and is seldom compared directly to leaf litter chemical quality. Furthermore, leaf litter elements other than carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are not systematically investigated even though large differences in elements such as calcium (Ca), potassium (K), or magnesium (Mg) can occur among both detritivore taxa and leaf litter types.
To investigate whether the chemical composition of macrodetritivore communities depends on leaf litter chemistry, we sampled 24 paired French forests sites that differed in their leaf litter chemical composition. At each site, we quantitatively sampled leaf litter transformers (Diplopoda and Isopoda) to estimate their abundance. For each morphospecies, we measured mean individual body mass and analyzed body concentrations of C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg (hereafter called chemical traits). We also analyzed the same macroelements in the dominant leaf litter at each site. We examined the detritivore taxonomic diversity, chemical community diversity, biomass, and abundance in communities, and tested whether these parameters were influenced by leaf litter chemistry.
Results at the morphospecies level were consistent with the homeostasis hypothesis, indicating no specific physiological adaptation to the chemical composition of their trophic resources. Chemical community diversity (i.e., the FDis index based on all six chemical elements) of detritivores was higher at sites with high-quality leaf litter than at the corresponding low-quality leaf litter sites. Furthermore, community-level concentrations of P and Mg in detritivores were positively influenced by litter P and Mg concentrations, respectively.
Although effect sizes were limited, our results suggest that leaf litter chemical composition can influence detritivore chemical composition through shifts in the relative abundance of taxa. Ultimately, this may lead to a closer match between the chemical composition of detritivore communities and that of their resources.
{"title":"Leaf litter chemistry contributes to shape the chemical footprint of macrodetritivore communities","authors":"Théo Marchand , Matthieu Chauvat , Estelle Forey , Florence Maunoury-Danger , Mathieu Santonja , Michaël Danger , Philippe Usseglio-Polatera , David Baqué , Frédéric Candaudap , Sophia V. Hansson , Frédéric Julien , Christophe Laplanche , Gaël Le Roux , Virginie Baldy , Raphaël Gros , Benjamin Pey","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106800","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.106800","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Addressing the factors underlying community patterns is a crucial endeavor as it contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, as well as the associated ecosystem services. For example, detritivore communities play a major role in decomposition processes and related matter and energy fluxes in ecosystems. However, compared to living plant resources, leaf litter resources are nutritionally poor, with low macroelement concentrations. Although detritivore communities are known to depend on the local leaf litter resources, it remains unclear whether the chemical composition of detritivores depends on the locally available leaf litter. The macroelement composition of detritivores is rarely studied and is seldom compared directly to leaf litter chemical quality. Furthermore, leaf litter elements other than carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are not systematically investigated even though large differences in elements such as calcium (Ca), potassium (K), or magnesium (Mg) can occur among both detritivore taxa and leaf litter types.</div><div>To investigate whether the chemical composition of macrodetritivore communities depends on leaf litter chemistry, we sampled 24 paired French forests sites that differed in their leaf litter chemical composition. At each site, we quantitatively sampled leaf litter transformers (Diplopoda and Isopoda) to estimate their abundance. For each morphospecies, we measured mean individual body mass and analyzed body concentrations of C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg (hereafter called chemical traits). We also analyzed the same macroelements in the dominant leaf litter at each site. We examined the detritivore taxonomic diversity, chemical community diversity, biomass, and abundance in communities, and tested whether these parameters were influenced by leaf litter chemistry.</div><div>Results at the morphospecies level were consistent with the homeostasis hypothesis, indicating no specific physiological adaptation to the chemical composition of their trophic resources. Chemical community diversity (i.e., the FDis index based on all six chemical elements) of detritivores was higher at sites with high-quality leaf litter than at the corresponding low-quality leaf litter sites. Furthermore, community-level concentrations of P and Mg in detritivores were positively influenced by litter P and Mg concentrations, respectively.</div><div>Although effect sizes were limited, our results suggest that leaf litter chemical composition can influence detritivore chemical composition through shifts in the relative abundance of taxa. Ultimately, this may lead to a closer match between the chemical composition of detritivore communities and that of their resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 106800"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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