Journal of Guangxi Normal University(Natural Science Edition) ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4): 195-209.doi: 10.16088/j.issn.1001-6600.2025070805

• Agricultural Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Differences in microbial community structure and function between limestone soils and red soils in Northern Guangxi, China

Wang Ruru1,2,3, Yan Xiangting1,2,3, Liu Zongbao2,4,5, Chen Rongshu1,2,3*, Zhu Jing1,2,3   

  1. 1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Remediation in Ecologically Fragile Regions (Guangxi Normal University), Guilin Guangxi 541006, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin Guangxi 541006, China;
    3. College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin Guangxi 541006, China;
    4. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Landscape Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization in Lijiang River Basin (Guangxi Normal University), Guilin Guangxi 541006, China;
    5. College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin Guangxi 541006, China
  • Received:2025-07-08 Revised:2025-10-20 Online:2026-07-05 Published:2026-07-01

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1

Abstract: To elucidate the characteristics of microbial diversity in different forest soil types within the subtropical monsoon region, this study investigated O/A (0~10 cm) and AB (10~30 cm) horizons of limestone soils (LS) and red soils (RS) under forest vegetation in Northern Guangxi. Combining 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing with soil physicochemical property analysis differences in microbial community structure, functional potential, and co-occurrence networks between soil types and horizons are explored. The results showed that: 1) Both soil types were dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Compared with limestone soils, RS exhibited higher relative abundance of Acidobacteria. Archaeal communities were predominantly Thaumarchaeota (>76%) in both soils. 2) Bacterial and archaeal richness indices were higher in limestone soils and red soils, respectively, though overall alpha diversity showed no significant difference. The O/A horizon displayed higher bacterial richness and diversity than the AB horizon, whereas archaeal richness was greater in the AB horizon. 3) Limestone soils bacterial and archaeal networks exhibited higher modularity and information transfer efficiency, while red soils networks demonstrated enhanced node complexity and robustness, reflecting adaptive mechanisms to acidic environments. 4) Soil pH, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and available phosphorus (AP) indirectly regulated microbial functional divergence by modulating resource availability. 5) Limestone soils bacteria showed stronger carbon-nitrogen metabolic functions (e.g., nitrification, aromatic compound degradation), whereas red soils bacteria exhibited enhanced nitrogen fixation capacity. Archaeal functional prediction revealed significantly higher aerobic ammonia oxidation activity in limestone soils and greater methanogenic potential in AB horizons of both soils.

Key words: limestone soil, red soil, microbial community structure, functional prediction, co-occurrence networks, niche differentiation, Northern Guangxi, China

CLC Number:  S154.36
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