Physicochemical properties and fungal community characteristics of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils of Hippophae rhamnoides in Pisha sandstone area of Inner Mongolia

Abstract:

[Objective] To compare the physicochemical properties and fungal community characteristics between rhizosphere soil and non-rhizosphere soil of Hippophae rhamnoides growing for different years in Pisha sandstone area of Inner Mongolia. [Methods] A total of 12 rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil samples were collected from the Pisha sandstone area of Ordos. Chemical methods were used to analyze soil physicochemical properties, and the fungal community composition in soil was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The correlations between fungal community characteristics and soil properties were analyzed. [Results] Total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available potassium (AK), organic matter (OM), and electrical conductivity (EC) of rhizosphere soil were higher than those of non-rhizosphere soil (P<0.05). Soil moisture content (SMC) increased as the planting years increased (P<0.05). The fungal richness and diversity in rhizosphere soil were higher than those in non-rhizosphere. Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota were the common dominant phyla in rhizosphere soil and non-rhizosphere soil, and Mortierella, Penicillium, and Aspergillus were the common dominant genera. The key fungal groups in non-rhizosphere soil and rhizosphere soil were Mortierella and Gibberella, respectively. The redundancy analysis showed that OM was a key soil factor affecting the soil fungal distribution. Mortierella was correlated with OM, AN, and total potassium (TK) (P<0.05). Gibberella was correlated with AN, OM, and EC (P<0.05). [Conclusion] The planting of H. rhamnoides in Pisha sandstone area of Inner Mongolia increases the nutrients and fungal richness in the rhizosphere soil, improving the stability of the soil environment. Moreover, the cultivation of H. rhamnoides increases the soil moisture, improving soil and water conservation and contributing to the ecological restoration. This study provides a theoretical basis for biodiversity conservation in the study area as well as for the ecological restoration and sustainable management of H. rhamnoides shrubland.