From arid deserts to mesic meadows: divergent pathways regulating microbial respiration under grassland enclosure

The PLS-PM analysis detailed these distinct mechanisms: soil property-induced microbial metabolic trade-offs enhanced carbon use efficiency in temperate desert (<i>R</i> ² = 0.951), plant-mediated microbial assembly processes promoted efficient carbon cycling in temperate steppe (<i>R</i> ² = 0.455), and plant-driven suppression of microbial biomass dominated respiratory reduction in mountain meadow (<i>R</i> ² = 0.883). The research establishes that enclosure achieves carbon sequestration through divergent pathways across ecosystems, providing critical insights for optimizing grassland management strategies and enhancing climate change mitigation efforts.