Soil nutrients in forests and associated fungal communities are key drivers of vegetation structure. However, information on soil fungal diversity and composition in Japanese forests is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the soil fungal communities and their relationship with soil nutrient status across four different forest types:
Cryptomeria japonica, Larix kaempferi, Fagus crenata and Robinia pseudoacacia forests were selected to study the soil fungal communities. We investigated the correlation between soil fungal community structure and composition with soil variables, and how this relates to vegetation composition.
Soil fungal communities were tree species dependent. Mycorrhizal fungi were abundant under Larix kaempferi and Fagus crenata plots, while almost no presence of these taxa was detected in Cryptomeria japonica and Robinia pseudoacacia plots. However, taxonomy of many species remained unknown, especially in Cryptomeria japonica plots (51%). pH, nitrate content and C/N ratio significantly were related to the fungal community structure. Our data suggested that C-sequestration was possibly higher in Cryptomeria japonica and Robinia pseudoacacia plots than in the other tree species.
We suggest favouring the planting Cryptomeria japonica over Fagus crenata and Larix kaempferi in order to reduce atmospheric C by binding C more efficiently in forest soils.