Fengzi Li, Lei Liu, Long Hai, Hongwei Yang, Kai Zhao, Qiuming Di, Zhibo Wang
Sustainable forest management requires a comprehensive understanding of how stand density regulates soil ecological processes. We examined a Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation under three thinning retention densities (High—HD; Medium—MD; Low—LD) and an unthinned control (CK), with soil samples collected from four depth layers (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 cm). This study investigated the effects of stand density on soil properties and microbial communities in a Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation by combining high-throughput sequencing with soil physicochemical analysis to identify the optimal density regime for maintaining soil health. Results demonstrated the following: (1) Moderate-density (MD) management best balanced the stability of soil ecosystem structure, showing superior water retention, organic carbon content, and microbial diversity in the 0–30 cm soil layer. The mechanism underlying these improvements can be attributed to the moderately open canopy structure in MD stands, which facilitated efficient litter decomposition and drove functional complementarity between Basidiomycota (enhancing cellulose degradation capacity) and Acidobacteriota (adapted to oligotrophic conditions). (2) Redundancy analysis revealed that soil pH and available nutrients (AK, AP) were key environmental factors driving microbial community restructuring: Actinobacteriota dominated in neutral, phosphorus-rich environments, while Acidobacteriota thrived under acidic, phosphorus-limited conditions. Fungal communities showed high sensitivity to management intensity, with significant shifts between Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, whereas bacterial communities remained relatively stable due to functional redundancy. We recommend the adoption of moderate-density management as a sustainable practice to enhance soil nutrient cycling and maintain microbial diversity, thereby providing scientific support for sustainable plantation management.