# Comparative analysis of soil properties before and after Morchella sextelata cultivation across various soil types

## TL;DR

This study shows how cultivating Morchella sextelata changes soil properties and microbes, with sandy soil being more affected than paddy soil.

## Contribution

The study reveals soil-type-dependent changes in soil properties and microbial communities caused by Morchella sextelata cultivation.

## Key findings

- Sandy soil showed increased pH and nitrogen/phosphorus levels but decreased potassium and calcium after cultivation.
- Microbial diversity decreased in sandy soil but increased in paddy soil, with sandy soil showing more drastic community changes.
- Sandy soil had greater enrichment of microbial genes related to soil-borne diseases compared to paddy soil.

## Abstract

Morchella, a highly nutritious edible fungus, has been successfully cultivated through artificial means. However, as cultivation areas have expanded, declining yield have emerged more prominently. Soil physicochemical characteristics and microbial communities were critical to production on cultivating morels. In this study, our results reveals that cultivation significantly alters soil properties and microbial communities in a soil type-dependent manner. In sandy soil, pH and key nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus) increased, while potassium and calcium levels decreased. Microbial diversity decreased in sandy soil but increased in paddy soil, with the overall community structure in sandy soil being more drastically reshaped. Metagenomic profiling identified distinct differential taxa and functional shifts, showing that sandy soil exhibited greater enrichment of microbial genes, including soil-borne diseases. These findings demonstrate that M. sextelata cultivation induces considerable and contrasting changes in soil nutrient profiles and microbiome composition, with sandy soil being more susceptible to microbial restructuring and potential pathogen enrichment.