Responses of soil properties and bacterial communities to forest stand structure
Description
This study selected three ecologically and economically important stand types in northern my country: Robinia pseudoacacia, Pinus tabulaeformis, and mixed Robinia pseudoacacia and Pinus tabulaeformis forests. Focusing on soil properties and soil bacterial communities, the study measured the structural characteristics (both spatial and non-spatial) of the three stand types, analyzed the corresponding soil physicochemical properties, and elucidated the bacterial community structure using high-throughput sequencing. Multivariate statistical analysis and structural equation modeling were then used to integrate and analyze the data, revealing the mechanisms by which soil properties and bacterial communities respond to stand structure. This study integrates stand spatial and non-spatial structure into a single framework, systematically exploring their synergistic effects on the belowground soil-microbial ecosystem and providing a more comprehensive understanding. Beyond focusing on correlations, the study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to reveal the specific driving pathways and cascading effects (particularly indirect effects) of stand structure in influencing soil properties and bacterial communities, further elucidating the underlying mechanisms. The results provide a key scientific basis for forest cultivation practices aimed at multifunctional goals (such as enhancing biodiversity and system stability, accelerating soil fertility improvement, and strengthening ecosystem resilience), particularly through optimizing stand structure configuration and regulation to achieve these goals.
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Institutions
- Shanxi Agricultural University