Qiaoyun Cao^1,2

1 Ninghai Nanzhi Xianguo Food Firm, Ninghai, 315600, Zhejiang, China
2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2026, Vol. 17, No. 2   
Received: 19 Feb., 2026    Accepted: 25 Mar., 2026    Published: 29 Apr., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Soil microbial diversity plays a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and regulating nutrient cycling in orchard ecosystems. This study focuses on loquat orchards in Zhejiang Province, aiming to investigate the characteristics of soil microbial communities and their relationships with nutrient cycling processes. Field sampling and laboratory analyses, including high-throughput sequencing and soil physicochemical measurements, were conducted to assess microbial diversity, community structure, and soil nutrient status. The results reveal significant spatial variations in microbial diversity and identify key functional groups involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus transformations. Furthermore, strong correlations were observed between microbial diversity indices and soil nutrient availability, indicating a close coupling relationship. A case study of a typical loquat orchard further demonstrates how management practices influence microbial communities and soil ecological functions. This research provides a scientific basis for optimizing orchard management and improving soil health in subtropical fruit production systems.

Soil microbial diversity; Nutrient cycling; Loquat orchard; Zhejiang Province; Soil ecology