Artemisia smithii patches lead to heterogeneity of soil bacteria and fungi within and around the patches in alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Herbivore-avoided plant patches are one of the initial characteristics of natural grassland degradation, which significantly reduces the value of grassland utilization. Additionally, A. smithii patches increased soil bacterial diversity within (0 m) and around (0-1 m) the patches by primarily enriching copiotrophic bacteria (Actinobacteria), while the diversity of fungal communities increased mainly in the 0-1m area but not within the patches (0 m). The structure and diversity of the soil microbial community were found to be in significant correlation with the soil biotic and abiotic parameters.