Effects of Near-Natural Forest Management on Soil Microbial Communities in the Temperate–Subtropical Transition Zone of China

In order to precisely improve the quality of major tree species in northern China, near-natural differentiated management has been gradually introduced into forestry practice, aiming to optimize forest structure, enhance forest quality, and promote nutrient cycling and water conservation. As an essential element of forest ecosystems, soil microbes contribute to biodiversity preservation and nutrient turnover in soils. This study selected three typical forest types (<i>Quercus acutissima</i> forest, <i>Pinus tabulaeformis</i> forest, and <i>Pinus tabulaeformis</i> × <i>Quercus</i> mixed forest) that have been managed with target trees on Zhongtiao Mountain. Using 16S/ITS rRNA high-throughput sequencing, this study systematically assessed the influences of forest type and soil depth (0-60 cm) on the soil properties and microbial communities. The results showed that the fungal alpha diversity indices were the highest in <i>Pinus tabulaeformis</i> forest, which decreased with soil depth. Actinobacteriota exhibited the greatest relative abundance in mixed forest, whereas Ascomycota predominated in the <i>Pinus tabulaeformis</i> forest. The microbial co-occurrence network exhibited greater complexity compared to the pure forest. Microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling functions showed strong correlation with soil pH and nutrient levels. Symbiotrophs dominated the fungal community, and ectomycorrhizae were significantly abundant in mixed forests. pH is the dominant factor driving changes in microbial communities. In summary, the mixed forest improved soil nutrients, enhanced the complexity of microbial networks, and supported higher ectomycorrhizal abundance. These findings provide practical guidance for improving soil health and stability of forest ecosystems through near-natural management.