Halophyte Planting Improves Saline-Alkali Soil and Brings Changes in Physical and Chemical Properties and Soil Microbial Communities

In this study, 5 kinds of halophytes were used to improve the saline-alkali soil, including Panicum virgatum L. (SG), Achnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski (AS), Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. (CG), Sphaerophysa salsula (Pall.) DC. (SS), and Sophora alopecuroides L. (SA). The soil bacteria 16S RNA amplicon sequencing was performed by an Illumina Miseq platform. Planting of halophytes increases the content of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen in the soil. Sphaerophysa salsula (Pall.) DC. (Sphaerophysa salsula) has the most significant improvement effect on saline-alkali land. In soil, Proteobacteria play a crucial role in the degradation of soil organic matter, which may be an important factor in improving saline-alkali soil. Besides, root exudates of halophytes might promote Proteobacteria growth, especially in Sphaerophysa salsula (Pall.) DC. and Sophora alopecuroides L. (Sophora alopecuroides). Halophyte planting has a significant impact on the restoration of saline-alkali soil.