Soil Microbial Community Based on PLFA Profiles in an Age Sequence of Pomegranate Plantation in the Middle Yellow River Floodplain

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the most important fruit trees in semi-arid land. Previous studies were primarily focused on soil microbial community composition under different pomegranate plantation managements. However, long-term has rarely been studied. We investigated along with an age sequence (i.e., 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after plantation; abbreviated by P1, P3, P5, P10, respectively) Middle Yellow River floodplain. Our objectives to address (1) variations physicochemical properties (2) changes influential factors. The results demonstrated that water content decreased increase stand age. Specifically, dissolved organic carbon, ammonium, available phosphorus increased significantly both at 0–10- 10–20-cm depths. P10 had highest phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, including fungi, bacteria, Gram-positive Gram-negative arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. ratio fungal PLFAs bacterial Dissolved carbon was factor among studied variables, which explained 42.2% variation community. In summary, elevated biomass altered composition.