Light grazing enhances microbial-mediated nitrogen transformation in desert steppe soils.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Soil microorganisms play a central role in nitrogen transformation and availability, yet their regulatory functions in mediating nitrogen transfer between soil and plants under long-term grazing remain poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate how grazing intensity influences soil microbial communities and nitrogen-cycling functional genes, and how these microbial shifts affect nitrogen transformation processes and plant nitrogen uptake in desert steppe ecosystems.

Methods

Here, we present a comprehensive study on soil microbes and nitrogen cycling functions in a desert grassland subjected to four grazing intensities - no grazing, light (0.91 sheep/ha), moderate (1.82 sheep/ha), and heavy (2.71 sheep/ha) - over 17 years.

Results

We found that both the struc

SUBMITTER: Zhu A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12495815 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature