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Fungi stimulate organic phosphorus fraction transformation in subtropical masson pine plantation soils after nine years of thinning and understory removal

Zunji Jian,Lixiong Zeng,Lei Lei,B. Frey,Changfu Liu,Yafei Shen,Jiajia Zhang,Wenfa Xiao,Mai-He Li

Published 2025 in Ecological Processes

ABSTRACT

Phosphorus (P) availability in soils regulates forest productivity. However, the drivers of soil P dynamics following forest management remain poorly understood, particularly in P-deficient forests in tropical and subtropical regions. Soil samples of 0–10 cm were collected from the plots after 9 years of thinning and understory removal (UR) in Pinus massoniana plantations in subtropical China. Soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass and community composition, and Hedley P fractions were measured to assess the underlying mechanisms for the dynamics of soil P fractions. Compared to undisturbed plots, total soil inorganic P (Pi; + 24%) within the dominant species thinning (DST) plots showed a significant increase, which was associated with the accrual in resin-Pi (+ 30%), NaHCO3-Pi (+ 21%), and C.CHl-Pi (+ 45%). These Pi fractions were primarily correlated with increased relative abundance of Ascomycota, Rozellomycota, and Proteobacteria. Conversely, post-management (thinning and UR) assessments revealed no significant changes in total P, total organic P (Po), and residual P. The observed decrease in total Po (– 9%) in DST plots was linked to reductions in NaHO-Po (– 7%) and C.CHl-Po (– 24%). Notably, these Po fractions were negatively affected by the relative abundance of Glomeromycota. Furthermore, variations in soil fungal and bacterial community structures accounted for 44.3% and 26.3% of the variances in soil Pi fractions, respectively, similarly explaining 20.4% and 33.3% for soil Po fractions, respectively. These results indicate that P availability following forest management interventions within subtropical pine plantations is intricately connected to microbial community composition that enhances the transformation from Po into Pi forms.

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