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Changes in Soil Microbial Community and Its Effect on Carbon Sequestration Following Afforestation on the Loess Plateau, China

Author

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  • Yun Xiang

    (College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Shanxi Research Academy of Environment Sciences, Taiyuan 030000, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Man Cheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taiyuan 030000, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Yimei Huang

    (College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Shaoshan An

    (College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Frédéric Darboux

    (French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), UR 0272, UR Science du sol, Centre de recherche d’Orléans, CS 40001, Cedex 2, F-45075 Orléans, France)

Abstract

Afforestation plays an important role in soil protection and ecological restoration. The objective of this study is to understand the effect of afforestation on soil carbon and soil microbial communities in the Loess Plateau of China. We measured two chemically-separated carbon fractions (i.e., humic acid, HA, and fulvic acid, FA) and soil microbial communities within shrublands (18-year-old Caragana korshinskii Kom (shrubland I) and 28-year-old Caragana korshinskii Kom (shrubland II)) and cropland. The size and structure of the soil microbial community was measured by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. The analysis of C-fractions indicated that at a depth of 0–20 cm, FA-C concentration in shrubland I and shrubland II were 1.7 times that of cropland, while HA-C had similar values across all three sites. Total PLFAs, G + (Gram positive) bacterial, G − (Gram negative) bacterial, and actinobacterial PLFAs were highest in shrubland II, followed by shrubland I and finally cropland. Fungal PLFAs were significantly higher in shrubland II compared to the other sites. Additionally, we found a high degree of synergy between main microbial groups (apart from fungi) with FA-C. We concluded that planting C. korshinskii in abandoned cropland could alter the size and structure of soil microbial community, with these changes being closely related to carbon sequestration and humus formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yun Xiang & Man Cheng & Yimei Huang & Shaoshan An & Frédéric Darboux, 2017. "Changes in Soil Microbial Community and Its Effect on Carbon Sequestration Following Afforestation on the Loess Plateau, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:8:p:948-:d:109244
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinyu Yan & Lanlan Zhang & Qi Xu & Linyu Qi & Jingyuan Yang & Xiongde Dong & Meiguang Jiang & Mengjun Hu & Junqiang Zheng & Yanyan Yu & Yuan Miao & Shijie Han & Dong Wang, 2023. "Effects of Variation in Tamarix chinensis Plantations on Soil Microbial Community Composition in the Middle Yellow River Floodplain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.

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