Afforestation can lower microbial diversity and functionality in deep soil layers in a semiarid region

• Published in: Global change biology Vol. 28; no. 20; pp. 6086 - 6101
• Main Authors: Kong, Weibo, Wei, Xiaorong, Wu, Yonghong, Shao, Mingan, Zhang, Qian, Sadowsky, Michael J., Ishii, Satoshi, Reich, Peter B., Wei, Gehong, Jiao, Shuo, Qiu, Liping, Liu, Liling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2022
• Subjects: Afforestation; Agricultural land; Arid climates; Aridity; Bacteria; Carbon; Climate; Deep layer; deep soil layers; Ecosystems; Environmental effects; Forest ecosystems; Functional groups; Legumes; microbial diversity; microbial network; Microorganisms; Moisture effects; multifunctionality; Organic carbon; Organic soils; Semi arid areas; Semiarid lands; semiarid region; Soil; Soil layers; Soil microorganisms; Soil moisture; Sustainability; Sustainable ecosystems; Terrestrial ecosystems; Vertical profiles

Afforestation is an effective approach to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, but often depletes deep soil moisture. Presently, it is not known how an afforestation‐induced decrease in moisture affects soil microbial community and functionality, hindering our ability to understand the sustainability o...