Soil microorganisms serve as pivotal biogeochemical engines in forest ecosystems. In response to ecological challenges, particularly soil degradation associated with intensive management of pure coniferous plantations, the transition toward mixed coniferous–broadleaved forests has emerged as a strategic approach to enhance the functional integrity and resilience of artificial forest ecosystems. However, the mechanisms by which such mixed forests influence soil microbial community assembly remain insufficiently synthesized. This review adopts a mechanistic framework centered on differential above- and belowground resource inputs, soil habitat filtering, microbial community responses, and downstream ecosystem functional outcomes. We critically synthesized recent advances regarding how mixed coniferous-broadleaved forests shape the composition, structure, and functioning of forest soil microbial communities. Specifically, we addressed: 1) non-additive effects arising from interspecific differences in litter quantity and quality, decomposition dynamics, and root-zone processes, including spatial complementarity of root systems, rhizodeposition-mediated biochemical interactions, and mycorrhizal network connectivity, which collectively generate heterogeneous resource input pathways; 2) how these differentiated inputs improve soil physical architecture (e.g., aggregation, porosity) and modulate chemical conditions (e.g., pH, nutrient availability, redox status), thereby imposing selective environmental filtering pressures on microbial taxa; 3) corresponding microbial responses, including shifts in total biomass, spatial redistribution of extracellular enzyme activities, restructuring of taxonomic and functional community composition, and increased complexity of interspecific interaction networks. Furthermore, we emphasized how mixed stand structural complexity and tree species diversity amplify these cascading effects. Finally, we identified critical knowledge gaps in current research, particularly concerning underlying biological mechanisms (e.g., allelopathic interactions, deterministic versus stochastic community assembly rules), temporal and spatial scaling of microbial responses, and integration across hierarchical ecological levels. We proposed that future progress hinges on synergistic integration of multi-omics approaches, stable isotope probing, long-term in situ monitoring, and process-based modeling—ultimately enabling the development of a predictive framework linking plant functional traits to microbial functional attributes. Such a framework would provide a robust scientific foundation for precision-oriented management of mixed coniferous–broadleaved forests aimed at enhancing carbon sequestration and sustaining soil fertility.
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Exploring the removal effects of nitrogen and phosphorus in the return flow of farmland by different aquatic plants, providing scientific basis for the use of aquatic plants in the remediation and prevention of water pollution.
Using hydroponic experiments to determine the changes of biomass, content and absorption of nitrogen and phosphorus in roots, stems and leaves of 12 aquatic plants, as well as removal rate of nitrogen and phosphorus in water. Cluster analysis was conducted on the nitrogen and phosphorus removal ability of 12 aquatic plants using the average membership function values of screening indicators.
Among the emergent plants, the net increase biomasses of Scirpusvalidus, Phragmitesaustralis and Typhaorientalis were higher. Phragmitesaustralis had the highest nitrogen absorption, reaching 201.22 mg·m-2, and Typhaorientalis had the highest phosphorus absorption, reaching 26.64 mg·m-2. Phragmitesaustralis had the highest removal rates for ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, reaching 98.56%, 78.93%, 80.22%, and 81.36%, respectively. Among floating plants, the net increase biomass of Eichhorniacrassipes was the highest. Eichhorniacrassipes had the highest nitrogen absorption, reaching 156.14 mg·m-2, and Nymphaea tetragona had the highest phosphorus absorption, reaching 23.48 mg·m-2. Eichhorniacrassipes had the highest removal rates for ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, reaching 95.63%, 76.01%, 71.66%, and 80.58%, respectively. Among submerged plants, the net increase biomass of Myriophyllumverticillatum was the highest. Myriophyllumverticillatum had the highest nitrogen absorption, reaching 230.75 mg·m-2, and Vallisnerianatans had the highest phosphorus absorption, reaching 26.11 mg·m-2. Myriophyllumverticillatum had the highest removal rate of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen, reaching 97.94% and 84.93%, respectively; and Vallisnerianatans had the highest removal rates of nitrate nitrogen and total phosphorus, reaching 76.32% and 79.09%, respectively. Phragmitesaustralis, Scirpusvalidus and Nymphaea tetragona mainly absorbed nitrogen and phosphorus through their roots, while the other 9 aquatic plants mainly absorbed nitrogen and phosphorus through their stems and leaves, thereby increasing biomass and removing nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. The removal rate of nitrogen and phosphorus in water was significantly positively correlated with the absorbed quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus by plants. Phragmitesaustralis, Typhaorientalis and Myriophyllumverticillatum were highly efficient purification plants, while Vallisnerianatans, Scirpusvalidus, Eichhorniacrassipes, Nymphaea tetragona, and Lythrumsalicaria were relatively efficient purification plants.
In Ningxia Yellow River irrigation region, the emergent plants such as Phragmitesaustralis, Typhaorientalis, Scirpusvalidus, and Lythrumsalicaria, as well as the floating plants such as Nymphaea tetragona, and the submerged plants such as Myriophyllumverticillatum and Vallisnerianatans, had a good removal effect on nitrogen and phosphorus.
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Soil and vegetation have a direct impact on the process and direction of plant community succession, and determine the structure, function, and productivity of ecosystems. However, little is known about the synergistic influence of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features on vegetation restoration. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-evolution of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features in the process of vegetation restoration, and to distinguish the primary and secondary relationships between soil and vegetation in their collaborative effects on promoting vegetation restoration in a subtropical area of China.
Soil samples were collected to 40?cm in four distinct plant communities along a restoration gradient from herb (4–5?years), to shrub (11–12?years), to Pinus massoniana coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest (45–46?years), and to evergreen broadleaved forest (old growth forest). Measurements were taken of the soil physicochemical properties and Shannon–Wiener index (SD), diameter at breast height (DBH), height (H), and biomass. Principal component analysis, linear function analysis, and variation partitioning analysis were then performed to prioritize the relative importance of the leading factors affecting vegetation restoration.
Soil physicochemical properties and vegetation features showed a significant trend of improvement across the vegetation restoration gradient, reflected mainly in the high response rates of soil organic carbon (SOC) (140.76%), total nitrogen (TN) (222.48%), total phosphorus (TP) (59.54%), alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (AN) (544.65%), available phosphorus (AP) (53.28%), species diversity (86.3%), biomass (2906.52%), DBH (128.11%), and H (596.97%). The soil properties (pH, SOC, TN, AN, and TP) and vegetation features (biomass, DBH, and H) had a clear co-evolutionary relationship over the course of restoration. The synergistic interaction between soil properties and vegetation features had the greatest effect on biomass (55.55%–72.37%), and the soil properties contributed secondarily (3.30%–31.44%). The main impact factors of biomass varied with the restoration periods.
In the process of vegetation restoration, soil and vegetation promoted each other. Vegetation restoration was the cumulative result of changes in soil fertility and vegetation features.
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