Native Bamboo (Indosasa shibataeoides McClure) Invasion of Broadleaved Forests Promotes Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in South China Karst

Bamboo invasion into broadleaf forests in karst areas significantly enhances soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, contrary to previous assumptions. A study conducted in South China Karst revealed that the presence of native bamboo (Indosasa shibataeoides McClure) increased litterfall biomass and altered soil properties, including bulk weight, pH, and nutrient content. The research analyzed soil from 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm layers across broadleaved forests (BF), mixed forests (MF), and pure bamboo forests (IF), assessing SOC fractions and microbial communities. Bamboo invasion boosted active (MBC, DOC, EOC) and passive (Fe/Al-SOC, Ca-SOC) organic carbon groups while shifting microbial diversity, particularly increasing Actinobacteriota and Mortierellomycota while decreasing Firmicutes and Basidiomycota. Path modeling indicated that bamboo's impact on SOC is primarily mediated through litterfall biomass and fungal community changes, with bacteria playing a negligible role. These findings suggest that bamboo invasion in karst regions could be leveraged to enhance carbon sequestration efforts.

Chen, Z., Xu, X., Wu, Z., Huang, Z., Gao, G., Zhang, J., & Zhang, X. (2023). Native Bamboo (Indosasa shibataeoides McClure) Invasion of Broadleaved Forests Promotes Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in South China Karst. Forests, 14(11), 2135. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112135