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Background and aims <p>Soil microbial phosphorus (P) cycling plays a pivotal role in ecosystem nutrient dynamics, yet its response to vegetation restoration under varying water availability, especially in alpine areas remains poorly characterized.</p> Methods <p>We integrated metagenomic sequencing with a revegetation chronosequence to systematically evaluate how restoration duration and water availability shape microbial P-cycling processes in degraded meadow and desertified steppe soils.</p> Results <p>Restoration significantly increased moderately labile, stable, and total P fractions in degraded meadow soils, whereas its impact on desertified steppe soils was negligible. Notably, water availability emerged as a critical driver of both microbial community composition and the abundance of P-cycling genes. For instance, <i>Proteobacteria</i> dominated microbial communities in degraded meadow soils, while <i>Proteobacteria</i> and <i>Acidobacteria</i> coexisted as keystone taxa in desertified steppe soils. Furthermore, key P-cycling genes (e.g., <i>gcd</i> and <i>phoD</i>) exhibited contrasting patterns across ecosystems. The <i>gcd</i> gene, associated with inorganic P solubilization, was more abundant in water-limited desertified steppe soils. Structural equation modeling further clarified that in desertified steppe soils, water availability primarily regulated P transportation pathways, whereas in meadow soils, it directly influenced genes governing inorganic P solubilization and organic P mineralization.</p> Conclusions <p>These findings underscore the intricate interplay between water regimes, microbial community structure, and P-cycling functionality during restoration. Our study highlights the necessity of tailoring restoration strategies to water conditions and temporal dynamics to optimize microbial-mediated P cycling.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Metagenomic insights into phosphorus cycling after alpine grassland restoration

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月18日

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  • Hanyong Zeng,
  • Muhammad Ibrar,
  • Meiqun Sheng,
  • Xianzhi Deng,
  • Jun Zhou,
  • Yanbao Lei,
  • Geng Sun

摘要

Background and aims

Soil microbial phosphorus (P) cycling plays a pivotal role in ecosystem nutrient dynamics, yet its response to vegetation restoration under varying water availability, especially in alpine areas remains poorly characterized.

Methods

We integrated metagenomic sequencing with a revegetation chronosequence to systematically evaluate how restoration duration and water availability shape microbial P-cycling processes in degraded meadow and desertified steppe soils.

Results

Restoration significantly increased moderately labile, stable, and total P fractions in degraded meadow soils, whereas its impact on desertified steppe soils was negligible. Notably, water availability emerged as a critical driver of both microbial community composition and the abundance of P-cycling genes. For instance, Proteobacteria dominated microbial communities in degraded meadow soils, while Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria coexisted as keystone taxa in desertified steppe soils. Furthermore, key P-cycling genes (e.g., gcd and phoD) exhibited contrasting patterns across ecosystems. The gcd gene, associated with inorganic P solubilization, was more abundant in water-limited desertified steppe soils. Structural equation modeling further clarified that in desertified steppe soils, water availability primarily regulated P transportation pathways, whereas in meadow soils, it directly influenced genes governing inorganic P solubilization and organic P mineralization.

Conclusions

These findings underscore the intricate interplay between water regimes, microbial community structure, and P-cycling functionality during restoration. Our study highlights the necessity of tailoring restoration strategies to water conditions and temporal dynamics to optimize microbial-mediated P cycling.

Graphical abstract