Soil microbial communities and enzyme activity for different reclamation (ecological restoration) patterns of abandoned farmlands in Shihezi, Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Although there have been obvious land use changes in Xinjiang, China, the effect of reclamation (ecological restoration) of abandoned farmlands on soil microbial properties is rarely reported. Natural restoration of abandoned farmland was used as a control treatment, and the effects of different reclamation (ecological restoration) patterns on soil microbial properties in Shihezi, Xinjiang, China were analyzed. The results showed that there was a significant difference between different reclamation (ecological restoration) patterns in soil chemical and microbial characteristics (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the highest values for soil organic matter and available P were in accordance with the highest values for soil microbial communities (fungi, bacteria and total microbial amount), and the higher the value of pH, the lower the activity of urease and soil microbial biomass carbon. Land use patterns, both ecological restoration and reclamation types, were useful when only soil quality improvement was considered. Because of the advantages of improvement in soil fertility, the agroforestry pattern could be used as the preferred reclamation pattern for abandoned farmland in salinized regions. By increasing the soil water content and promoting the establishment of vegetation, the water recharge pattern could be a good choice during the early stage of ecological restoration of abandoned farmland.