Stage-specific rhizosphere microbial succession drives nutrient cycling in the desert plant Leymus racemosus (Lam.) tzvelev

Background and aims: Plants regulate nutrient uptake and growth by recruiting rhizosphere microorganisms via root exudates. However, a systematic understanding of how the rhizosphere core and functional microbiota jointly regulate the dynamics of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium across the entire plant life cycle remains limited. Methods We used 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to analyze the rhizosphere bacterial communities and nutrient contents of the desert plant Leymus racemosus at different growth stages in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China. Results Arthrobacter , as a core taxon, maintained nitrogen stability across all growth stages. Bacillus became the dominant genus during the flowering stage, ensuring nutrient supply and reflecting an “investment” strategy. At maturity, enhanced microbial cooperation combined with reduced plant demand promoted the accumulation of rhizosphere nutrients, thereby facilitating energy storage for subsequent growth. Conclusions This study reveals the developmental dynamics of rhizosphere bacterial community assembly and nutrient regulation in L. racemosus . It provides a theoretical basis for further elucidating plant–microbe interactions in desert ecosystems. Future research should focus on isolating key bacterial strains and integrating metabolomics to clarify the underlying mechanisms.