Woody plant encroachment significantly alters grassland soil microbial community

Woody plant encroachment is a global issue, and the changes in grassland ecological function caused by woody encroachment have been widely documented. However, our understanding of the impact of woody plant encroachment on soil microbial communities remains limited. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of 241 paired observations from 61 studies to examine the effects of woody plant encroachment on soil microbial communities in grasslands and to identify factors driving these changes.