Soil Microorganisms in Mixed Forest and Pure Forests of Ulmus pumila - Robinia pseudoacacia Based on Metagenomics

Abstract

Abstract AimsThe present study aimed to explore the characteristics of the microbial community in Ulmus pumila-Robinia pseudoacacia mixed forest soils in the Yellow River Delta.MethodsWe used metagenomics to analyse the structure and functional characteristics of the soil microbial community in a pure forest of Ulmus pumila, a pure forest of Robinia pseudoacacia, and a mixed forest of Ulmus pumila - Robinia pseudoacacia.ResultsIn total, 176 phyla and 21,760 species of microorganisms were identified. The proportion of bacteria (84.90% - 85.20%) was the highest among the microbial types in the soil of each forestland. Using the orthological database eggNOG, we identified the most dominant functional gene category is soil microbial metabolism. The active metabolism of carbohydrates in the KEGG pathway was prominent. In the carbon cycle, that soil microbial carbon metabolic activity in the mixed forests were greater than that in the pure forests. The gene abundance related to nitrogen metabolism was the highest in the Ulmus pumila - Robinia pseudoacacia mixed forest soil. ConclusionsMixed forests play specific roles in soil quality improvement by promoting the activity and functional metabolism of various soil microbiome communities.