TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Light Heterogeneity Caused by Photovoltaic Panels on the Plant–Soil–Microbial System in Solar Park
AU - Li, Cui
AU - Liu, Jinxian
AU - Bao, Jiabing
AU - Wu, Tiehang
AU - Chai, Baofeng
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - The large-scale construction of photovoltaic (PV) panels causes heterogeneity in environmental factors, such as light, precipitation, and wind speed, which may lead to microhabitat climate changes that may affect ecosystems. In this study, plant–soil–microbial systems in shady and non-shady gaps of PV panels in a solar park in Northern China were investigated. The shading caused by the PV panels significantly affected the alpha diversity of plant and fungal communities (p < 0.05). The compositions of plant and soil microbial (bacteria, fungi, and protists) communities were significantly different between shady and non-shady areas (p < 0.05), and the beta diversity of the plant community was significantly correlated with that of the soil microbial community (p < 0.05). Shading enhanced the complexity of microbial communities by strengthening the associations among soil microbes. Photosynthetically active radiation was the main driving factor in the assembly of aboveground and belowground communities on a small scale, and it indirectly shaped the microbial community through its effects on the plant community. This study highlights the important effects of light on microbial community formation and on the relationships among communities in plant–soil–microbial systems. Thus, the effects of solar park establishment on degraded ecosystems should be considered.
AB - The large-scale construction of photovoltaic (PV) panels causes heterogeneity in environmental factors, such as light, precipitation, and wind speed, which may lead to microhabitat climate changes that may affect ecosystems. In this study, plant–soil–microbial systems in shady and non-shady gaps of PV panels in a solar park in Northern China were investigated. The shading caused by the PV panels significantly affected the alpha diversity of plant and fungal communities (p < 0.05). The compositions of plant and soil microbial (bacteria, fungi, and protists) communities were significantly different between shady and non-shady areas (p < 0.05), and the beta diversity of the plant community was significantly correlated with that of the soil microbial community (p < 0.05). Shading enhanced the complexity of microbial communities by strengthening the associations among soil microbes. Photosynthetically active radiation was the main driving factor in the assembly of aboveground and belowground communities on a small scale, and it indirectly shaped the microbial community through its effects on the plant community. This study highlights the important effects of light on microbial community formation and on the relationships among communities in plant–soil–microbial systems. Thus, the effects of solar park establishment on degraded ecosystems should be considered.
KW - community relations
KW - light heterogeneity
KW - photosynthetically active radiation
KW - photovoltaic panel shading
KW - plant–soil–microbial system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149247430&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/land12020367
DO - 10.3390/land12020367
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85149247430
SN - 2073-445X
VL - 12
JO - Land
JF - Land
IS - 2
M1 - 367
ER -
