Short-term effects of tillage disturbance and nutrient enrichment on above-ground plant communities and below-ground microorganisms in a Hulunber grassland

Abstract Land tillage disturbances and nutrient enrichment profoundly alter ecosystem processes and functions. Previous studies have explored the effects of tillage disturbance and nutrient enrichment on plant communities and soil properties. However, integrated studies of the effects of tillage disturbance and nutrient enrichment on multiple below-ground ecological processes and functions are needed. Here, we conducted a field experiment in the Hulunber grassland, establishing four treatments (control, tillage disturbance (D), nutrient enrichment (NPKμ) and tillage disturbance plus nutrient enrichment (NPKμD)) to examine their influences on plant communities, soil microbial communities, and carbon mineralization. Compared with the D treatment, the NPKμD treatment increased plant community biomass through a significant 13-fold rise in annual and biennial plant biomass (P < 0.01). Both the D treatment and NPKμD treatment significantly decreased the Shannon index of plant communities (P < 0.05). Microbial network complexity increased under NPKμ treatment whereas the D treatment reduced it. Both D treatment and NPKμ treatments significantly reduced soil carbon mineralization, and NPKμ exacerbated the negative effects of tillage disturbance (P < 0.05). Partial Least Squares Path Modeling showed that plant diversity, biomass and soil properties influenced soil carbon mineralization directly and indirectly via soil bacterial and fungal communities. Our findings suggest that nutrient enrichment promotes the recovery of plant community productivity after disturbance, while the recovery of plant diversity and soil microbial community structure may require a longer period. Therefore, achieving comprehensive ecological integrity characterized by stable plant community structure and healthy soil microbial communities requires long-term dynamic monitoring and targeted management strategies.