Soil bacterial communities are influenced more by forest type than soil
depth or slope position
Abstract
Soil depth, slope position and different plantations can influence
bacterial community composition in Camellia oleifera forests.
However, prior studies have focused on the impacts of different depths,
slope positions, and forest types on bacterial diversity independently,
without comparing their combined impacts. This study aimed to assess
variation in soil bacterial community structures according to soil depth
and slope position and different forest types in the same plot. The
composition of soil bacterial communities was evaluated using
high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Results indicate that
the soil organic carbon, humus, and total organic content increased, and
the bacterial composition and structure were significantly altered in
response to the G. jasminoides + C. oleifera low-yielding forest
in comparison to the other three forest types. The highest soil bacteria
numbers, Alpha and beta diversity, which improved the soil
microecological environment, were associated with the G.
jasminoides + C. oleifera forests and not the depth or slope position
treatments. The slope position did not have a significant influence on
the soil physicochemical and bacterial properties. Structural equation
modeling suggested that G. jasminoides + C. oleifera
significantly affected the soil bacterial community diversity by
mediating the soil pH and NH 4–N. The effects of forest
type on soil bacterial diversity were more important than soil depth and
slope position. This specific intercropping system was found to be an
effective strategy to improve soil health.