Microbial-Plant Interaction: Bacillus subtilis-Driven Gravel Soil Improvement and Growth Promotion of Festuca...

The rapid expansion of tunnel engineering in China has led to extensive excavation of gravelly soils, resulting in significant land occupation that threatens the ecological environment and surrounding biota. As a result, there is an increasing need for effective ecological restoration of nutrient-poor gravelly soils, where challenges in vegetation establishment and sustainable soil management persist. This study evaluates the potential of Bacillus subtilis to promote the growth of Festuca arundinacea in engineered gravel soils through a controlled greenhouse experiment, examining its effects on plant growth, soil nutrient dynamics, and microbial community structure. The results showed that, compared to the control group (CK), neither the Bacillus subtilis treatment group (Bs) nor the nutrient application treatment group (LB) significantly altered the soil bacterial species composition at the phylum level. However, at the genus level, Azotobacter dominated the LB group, while Sphingomonas was the predominant genus in both the CK and Bs groups. Additionally, Bacillus subtilis significantly increased bacterial diversity relative to the nutrient application treatment, leading to substantial changes in microbial community composition. Furthermore, Bacillus subtilis notably enhanced both aboveground and belowground biomass, improved nutrient uptake, and increased the availability of phosphorus and potassium. It also stimulated soil enzymatic activities involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling, emphasizing its critical role in nutrient cycling. Thus, Bacillus subtilis-driven soil enhancement offers a promising solution for ecological restoration in nutrient-poor gravelly soils, where conventional amendments are often ineffective. These findings underscore the potential of microbial-plant synergies to improve soil fertility and support sustainable vegetation restoration.