Effects of different harvesting methods on soil bacterial diversity in Betula platyphylla secondary forest in Daxing 'an Mountains, inner Mongolia

Introduction: In the context of global climate change, optimizing forest management is essential for improving cold-temperate forest ecosystems. However, the pathways through which forest management influences ecological functions via soil and microbial communities remain unclear. Methods: This study examined how logging methods impact the soil properties and bacterial communities in the Daxing 'an Mountains, Inner Mongolia. Sample plots for five conditions were analyzed: secondary gradual cutting (S1 and S2), secondary gradual cutting with replanting (S3 and S4), clear cutting (ML and MB), and original forests (L1, L2, and L3). Results: (S2), Gemmataceae_unclassified (S3), AD3_unclassified (S4), KD4-96_unclassified (ML), RB41 (MB), and Vicinamibacterales_unclassified (L1). PICRUSt2 predictions may indicate potential increases in metabolism (S2, L1, and L3), environmental information processing (S3, L1, and L3), genetic information processing (S4 and ML), and cellular processes (MB and L3). (3) Soil factor analysis identified pH as the original community driver overall. Total nitrogen and soil organic matter dominated in cutting plots, while moisture content was key in forest plots. Conclusions: This study found that appropriate logging methods improve soil nutrient content and bacterial diversity by regulating soil pH, total nitrogen, and moisture. These results demonstrate the profound impact of forest management on core soil ecological processes.