Dead-fallen shrubs improve soil microbial activity and promote accumulations of soil carbon and nitrogen in an arid sandy land

Dead-fallen shrubs play a crucial role in soil improvement, yet few studies were focused on the impacts of dead-fallen shrubs on soil microbial community, enzyme activity, and soil nutrient in sandy lands. Here, we collected sandy soil samples from bare sandy land (BSD), standing living shrubs (SLS), and dead-fallen shrubs at decay stages of 1-3, 5-7, and 9-11 years in the Mu Us Sandy Land of Northern China.