soil metagenome Metagenome. soil metagenome

Agricultural abandonment has become one of major driving forces for global ecological restoration. However, our knowledge is deficient in the changes of stock, accumulation rate, and stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) during vegetation succession following agricultural abandonment. In the this research program, we will study the SOC dynamics (old carbon and new carbon) and stabilization mechanisms in ecosystems along a secondary succession gradient (i.e., grassland, shrub-grass land, young secondary forest, half-mature secondary forest, and mature secondary forest) following agricultural abandonment in China’s Qinling Mountains. The relationships among microbial community, SOC fractions and aggregate stability during vegetation succession will been explored.