Soil Microbial Community, Soil Quality, and Productivity along a Chronosequence of Larix principis-rupprechtii Forests

Elucidating the correlation between soil microbial communities and forest productivity is focus of research in field ecology. Nonetheless, relationship stand age, quality, microorganisms, their combined influence on still unclear. In this study, five development stages (14, 25, 31, 39, >80 years) larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii) forests were investigated Inner Mongolia Shanxi provinces China. We evaluated quality using Integrated Soil Quality Index (SQI) analyzed changes bacterial fungal high-throughput sequencing. Regression models also established to examine impacts diversity, SQI productivity. The findings revealed an ascending trend organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), available potassium (AK), 14, 39-year-old stands. abundance oligotrophic bacteria Acidobacteria exhibited a gradual decline with increasing whereas copiotroph Proteobacteria displayed progressive increase. Stands older than 80 years higher both saprophytic fungus Ascomycota mycorrhizal Basidiomycota. Forest age had significant impact particularly terms impacting α β diversity. community structure was influenced by AK, SOM, TN, TP, pH. Conversely, regulated crucial factors including TK, Fungal diversity demonstrated positive basal area increment (BAI) larch. Furthermore, accounted for 23.6% variation BAI. summary, implied robust association composition, chemical properties throughout chronosequence forests. These collectively played role influencing forest.