# Neotrinia splendens (Liliopsida: Poaceae) Growth Influences Spatial Distribution of Soil Bacterial Community in a Degraded Temperate Grassland

## TL;DR

The growth of Neotrinia splendens in degraded grasslands affects the distribution of soil bacteria, with notable differences in bacterial diversity and composition in different zones around the plant.

## Contribution

This study reveals how Neotrinia splendens influences soil bacterial communities in degraded grasslands, emphasizing the importance of soil microbes in plant-soil interactions.

## Key findings

- Soil bacterial diversity and composition differ significantly among zones inside, outside, and under Neotrinia splendens rings.
- Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria are the most prevalent bacterial phyla in the soil microbial network.
- Soil NO3−-N, TC, TN, and pH are key factors influencing bacterial community variation.

## Abstract

Neotrinia splendens is widely distributed and is the dominant plant species of temperate degraded grassland in Inner Mongolia, showing a community growing habit forming a ring of individuals. However, there is a lack of attention to the soil microbial communities inside the ring (IN), outside the ring, and under the N. splendens ring (UN). This study investigated the soil bacterial community composition in three different zones of the N. splendens ring using amplicon sequencing technology, as well as soil environmental variables. The soil physicochemical properties, the composition of soil bacterial community, and the soil bacterial α-diversity varied significantly among the three zones. Especially, the growth of N. splendens promotes the soil bacterial diversity in the UN zone due to the interactions between plant and soil microbes. Soil NO3−-N, TC, TN, and pH are the key factors causing the variations of soil bacterial community composition and bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla of microorganisms accounted for the largest proportion in network analysis among the three zones. Overall, attention should be paid not only to the improvement of grassland vegetation and soil quality but also to the change in soil microorganisms during the formation and expansion of the N. splendens ring in the future.