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Soil microbial-mediated sulfur cycle and ecological network under typical desert halophyte shrubs
  • Wenjing Li,
  • Guanghui Lv,
  • Dong Hu
Wenjing Li
Xinjiang University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Guanghui Lv
Xinjiang University
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Dong Hu
Northwest University
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Abstract

The sulfur cycle is one of the geochemical element cycles in which microorganisms play a key driving role. The microbial function of soil S cycling in response to desert degradation, however, remains largely unknown. We used metagenomics to analyze the characteristics of microbial communities and their functional genes involved in the S cycles under natural water gradients with three typical halophytes shrubs in the Ebinur Lake Basin Desert, China. Our results showed that the rhizosphere effect, water gradient, and halophyte type played a major role in shaping the S cycle. On the whole, in the rhizosphere type and low water environment, the functional genes involved in the S cycle had high abundance, and the SOX system in Alhagi sparsifolia had a high expression level. In the S cycle network structure, as the soil water content decreased, the complexity in S gene networks increased, showing the characteristics of clustering and high connectivity. Indicates the strengthening mode in microbial interactions with the water content. Interestingly, the negative correlation of the network changed with the water content, and there was more competition among communities under the low water gradient and more cooperation under the high water gradient. Through the correlation between environmental factors and the network, nitrate (NO 3 ) and soil available S (AS) constrained most S gene ecology networks. The key species involved in the S cycle were halophilic microorganisms. These results can enhance the understanding of soil S biogeochemical processes and contribute to the mitigation of desertification by improving soil conservation.
16 Jun 2022Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
17 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
17 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
20 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Jun 20221st Revision Received
26 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
26 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
05 Jul 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
07 Jul 20222nd Revision Received
08 Jul 2022Submission Checks Completed
08 Jul 2022Assigned to Editor
09 Jul 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Dec 2022Published in Land Degradation & Development volume 33 issue 18 on pages 3718-3730. 10.1002/ldr.4418