Corn cultivation alters bacterial diversity and function in salinized soils of the Diversionary Yellow River Irrigation Area

In order to clarify the impact of phytoremediation on the diversity and function of soil bacterial communities, three types of soil bacterial diversity and function prediction were analyzed using corn rhizosphere (CR) and non rhizosphere (C) and non planted (H) soil bacteria in saline alkali soil of Ningxia Yellow River Diversion Irrigation Area as research objects. The results showed that after planting corn in saline alkali soil, the soil bacteria had a more complex community richness and diversity composition compared to those without remediation. The Ace index, Chao1 index, Shannon index, and Simpson index, from highest to lowest, were CR>C>H; Compared with uncultivated wasteland, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in maize rhizosphere and non rhizosphere soils increased by 4.53% and 3.33%, respectively, while the relative abundance of Actinobacteria increased by 3.97% and 5.73%, respectively; After planting corn, the relative abundance of bacteria involved in metabolic functions in rhizosphere and non rhizosphere soils increased by 1.44% and 0.56%, respectively, and the relative abundance of bacteria involved in cellular processes increased by 0.20% and 0.21%, respectively. Overall, planting corn to restore saline alkali soil can effectively improve the structure and functional diversity of soil bacterial communities, and has positive significance in improving the soil microenvironment and promoting soil quality remediation in saline alkali soil.