Effects of Pisha Sandstone Application Rate and Microbial Agents on Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Microbial Characteristics in Sandy Soil

Sandy soils are prone to water loss, low fertility, difficulties in vegetation growth, and severe wind erosion, and the employment of microorganisms and other techniques to improve sandy soils is an efficient way to realize their management. This study involved a field experiment in a demonstration garden located in the Hobq Desert region of China, aimed at examining the impacts on soil nutrients, microbial populations, enzyme activity, and licorice growth resulting from two experimental groups with varying volume ratios of Pisha sandstone (0%, 30%, 50%, 80%, and 100%) and sandy soils, categorized by the presence of microbial agents (M) or their absence (NM). The study's results indicated that the incorporation of Pisha sandstone markedly influenced soil nutrients, microbial populations, enzyme activity, and the height of licorice plants, in contrast to the 0% volume addition of Pisha sandstone without microbial agents (CK). The enhancement was notably greater following the introduction of microbial agents; the optimal overall treatment effect was observed with a 50% volume addition of Pisha sandstone, where soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and licorice growth metrics attained their peak values in NM and N. Correlation analysis indicates that the enhancement of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus can elevate the population of soil microorganisms and enzyme activity, with these parameters interacting and mutually reinforcing each other to facilitate the improvement of sandy soil. This offers an effective approach for enhancing sandy soil.