Inoculation with Pisolithus tinctorius may ameliorate acid rain impacts on soil microbial communities associated with Pinus massoniana seedlings

Human activities accelerate acidification, particularly as acid rain, which may have lasting impacts on soil abiotic and biotic parameters. However, the effects of acidification on aboveground vegetation, belowground communities, and carbon cycling remains unresolved. We examined the effects of long-term acidic treatments and Pisolithus tinctorius inoculation on plants, soils, and microbial communities in pine (Pinus) plantations and found that exposure to severely-acidic treatments diminished plant performance, altered microbial communities, and decreased organic matter, nitrate, and available phosphorus. Although we did not detect any benefits of P. tinctorius inoculation for Pinus seedlings impacted by severely-acidic treatments, when these severe treatments were inoculated with P. tinctorius, both soil properties and microbial community composition shifted. We posit that inoculation with P. tinctorius may alleviate stressful environmental conditions, and change the structure of mycorrhizal fungal communities. Although acidification may alter biogeochemical cycles and constrain aboveground and belowground communities, P. tinctorius inoculation may provide benefits to some components of forested ecosystems.