Abstract

Soil microbial diversity underpins critical ecosystem functions, including nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and plant productivity, collectively termed soil ecosystem multifunctionality (SEMF). This study investigates the relationship between microbial diversity and SEMF across three agricultural landscapes using metagenomic sequencing and field measurements. We assessed microbial diversity (Shannon index) and functional gene abundance alongside soil functions like nitrogen fixation, organic matter decomposition, and crop yield. Results show that higher microbial diversity correlates with enhanced SEMF, with a 20–30% increase in multifunctionality indices in diverse microbial communities. Key taxa, such as Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, were linked to specific functions. These findings underscore the importance of microbial diversity for sustainable soil management, though challenges in maintaining diversity under intensive agriculture persist