Available Nitrogen as the Determinant of Variability in Soil Microbial Communities Throughout Lycium chinense Growth Zones in the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai, China

Qianqian Su, Jie Li (), Jingui Wang, Gang Li, Yang Sun, Xiaoqin Liu, Lan Luo, Xinrui Wang and Guilong Zhang
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Qianqian Su: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Jie Li: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Jingui Wang: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Gang Li: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Yang Sun: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Xiaoqin Liu: The Forestry Department of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China
Lan Luo: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Xinrui Wang: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Guilong Zhang: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Understanding the compositional and functional dynamics of soil microbial communities is crucial for optimizing soil fertility and promoting agricultural sustainability. In this study, the spatial variability of soil properties and microbial communities was investigated across four Lycium chinense growing regions (Golmud, Dengle, Delingha and Ulan) around Qaidam Basin in China, aiming to explore their relationships and implications for soil management. Soil samples were collected from four Lycium chinense growing regions around the Qaidam Basin, China, and analyzed for changes in bacterial and fungal communities using high-throughput amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA gene and ITS region, respectively. The results showed spatial heterogeneity of soil fertility around the Qinghai Basin. The soil organic matter peaked at 17.89 g/kg in WL, compared to a low of 6.72 g/kg in GLMD, while soil nitrate concentrations reached a maximum of 188.91 mg/kg in WL versus 47.48 mg/kg in GLMD. The soil nitrate and ammonium concentrations emerged as a key factor influencing the β -diversity of microbial communities, despite having no significant effect on α -diversity. Through network analysis and Z-P plots, 53 keystone microbial taxa such as Truepera , Metarhizium , and Gemmatimonas were identified, which were closely associated with nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification, suggesting essential roles in nitrogen cycling and ecosystem stability. Furthermore, the nutrient-rich eastern regions had more complex microbial co-occurrence networks and a greater abundance of keystone microbial species compared to the nutrient-poor western regions. In conclusion, this study offers insights into soil management to enhance soil health and promote sustainable agricultural production in high-altitude areas.

Keywords: Lycium chinense cultivated region; soil fertility; soil microbial communities; keystone taxa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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