Metagenomic insights into phosphorus cycling after alpine grassland restoration
Description
Fieldwork was conducted in early August 2022, focusing on degraded meadow and desertified steppe restoration sequences. Four random plots (30 m × 10 m each) were established at each site, and surface soil samples were collected from ten randomly selected points within each plot, mixed to form composite samples. A plot of 50 cm × 50 cm was designated for assessing vegetation characteristics and harvesting the aboveground biomass. Plant leaves were dried and ground into fine powder for P content analysis. Soil samples were cleaned to remove roots, litter, and stones, then divided into three portions: one air-dried for physicochemical property analysis, one sieved (2 mm) and stored at 4 °C for microbial biomass and enzyme activity assays, and one stored at -80 °C for metagenomic analysis. The metagenomic sequencing data were submitted to the NCBI Sequence Read Archive under accession number PRJNA1194969.