nifH gene-based analysis of diazotrophic community structure and responses in biological soil crusts under sand-fixing plantations in an alpine sandy land.
This study examined diazotrophic community differentiation in biological soil crusts (BSCs) under four sand-fixing plantation types in the Gonghe Basin, an alpine sandy land. Soil samples were collected from bare sand, algal crusts, and moss crusts across all plantations. We measured soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities, and performed Illumina sequencing of the nifH gene to characterize shifts in diazotrophic community composition, environmental responses, and nitrogen metabolism functions throughout BSCs succession.