Microbial community in soils under oil palm plantations

This study investigates and compares the soil microbiomes of oil palm plantations with those in the Maludam National Park (NP), Malaysia, focusing on microbial diversity and functional potentials in both ecosystems. Oil palm plantations, with their intensive agricultural practices, are known to alter soil microbial communities, which play a critical role in ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and soil health. In contrast, Maludam NP represents a pristine natural environment with minimal anthropogenic influence. We collected soil samples from both environments and employed high-throughput sequencing technologies to analyze microbial diversity, community composition, and functional genes associated with key soil processes. Our findings reveal distinct differences in microbial community structures between the two environments. Oil palm plantations exhibited reduced microbial diversity, with a predominance of soil bacteria associated with nutrient cycling under agricultural conditions. In contrast, Maludam NP soils harbored a more diverse microbial community with higher relative abundance of microbes involved in forest-specific soil processes. Functional pathway analysis further highlighted differences in nitrogen fixation, organic matter decomposition, and soil health indicators. This study underscores the impact of land-use change on soil microbiomes and highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats like Maludam NP to maintain soil ecosystem functions. The results provide a baseline for future studies on sustainable land management practices and their potential effects on soil microbiomes in tropical regions.