Impact of Robinia pseudoacacia stand conversion on soil properties and bacterial community composition in Mount Tai, China

Converting Robinia pseudoacacia stands from seedling to coppice plantations significantly reduces soil quality and alters bacterial community composition, potentially undermining the species' role in soil restoration. The study found that while total carbon and nitrogen decreased in rhizosphere soils, nutrient availability increased, with notable shifts in bacterial diversity and structure. Proteobacteria and Rhizobium abundance rose, while Actinobacteria declined, correlating with reduced nutrient availability. Nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) emerged as a key factor influencing bacterial distribution, explaining 15.12% of the variation. These changes suggest spatial-temporal homogenization in microbial communities, which may accelerate the decline of R. pseudoacacia and its effectiveness in restoring barren mountain lands.

Li, K., Han, X., Ni, R., Shi, G., de-Miguel, S., Li, C., Shen, W., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, X. (2021). Impact of Robinia pseudoacacia stand conversion on soil properties and bacterial community composition in Mount Tai, China. Forest Ecosystems, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-021-00296-x