Research Progress

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  Lithological Controls on Soil Microbial Resource Limitation in Subtropical Forests of Southwest China, New Research

  In a new research published in Catena​, a team led by Prof. LI Dejun from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, revealed that lithology, rather than climate, governs microbial resource limitation through soil geochemistry and microbial traits.

  Jun 23, 2026
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  Land Use Practices: Predominantly Factors Impact Soil Nitrogen Transformation

  In a study published in Functional Ecology on June 1, research team led by Pro. LI Dejun from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences​, first revealed that land use type is the dominant factor regulating the climate responsiveness of soil organic nitrogen (SON) transformation. These findings provide critical insights into the mechanisms underlying land-type-specific nitrogen management strategies and global change modeling.

  Jun 10, 2026
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  From "Local" Gut Barrier to "Systemic" Liver Protection, New Research

  Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has quietly escalated into a global silent epidemic, affecting over a quarter of the world's population. As scientists search for ways to halt its progression from simple fatty liver to irreversible liver cancer, attention has turned to the "Gut-Liver Nexus"—the biological highway connecting our digestive tract to our metabolic engine.

  May 31, 2026
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  Microbial Necromass Dominates Organic Carbon Accumulation in Calcareous Soil Following Afforestation, New Research

  Serving as a fundamental driver of the global carbon cycle and climate feedback systems, the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) are critical for climate stabilization.

  May 29, 2026
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  Chinese Scientists Revealed How Tree Species Diversity Suppresses Soil Carbon Priming Effects In Subtropical Karst Forest

  A research team led by Prof. Li Dejun from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides the first evidence in a subtropical karst forest that tree species diversity can significantly suppress priming effects, and elucidates a novel synergistic regulatory mechanism centered on alleviating microbial energy limitation-functional guild transition-gene expression rewiring.

  May 29, 2026
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  Soil-Rock Structure Controls on Plant Water Adaptation Strategies in Karst Regions, Study Find

  As global vegetation greening continues to accelerate, ensuring the long-term sustainability and stability of ecosystems has become a central challenge in terrestrial ecosystem research., Karst region in Southwest China, one of the most actively recovering vegetation zones in the world, and also a complex soil-rock structure, where plant survival and growth are shaped not only by climate but also profoundly by the underlying soil-rock structure. However, the mechanisms by how rock-soil structures mediate species coexistence and water use strategy differentiation remained unclear. This knowledge gap has limited the assessment of plant water adaptation strategies in complex habitats.

  Apr 24, 2026
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  Scientists Uncover the Critical Microbioal Makers Associated with Growth Performance in Hulunbuir Sheep

  A team led by Prof. TAN Zhiliang from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delineated the temporal succession patterns of rumen microbiota and explore its correlation with average daily gain (ADG)—a key indicator of growth performance.

  Apr 13, 2026
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  Lithology and Climate Warming Regulate Soil Nutrients via Microbial Interactions, Study Finds

  Bedrock geochemical properties govern soil mineral composition and nutrient availability, thereby regulating microbial community structure and function will ultimately influence soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) accumulation. However, how bedrock-derived geochemistry regulates nutrient accumulation under warming remains unclear, especially through its indirect effects on microbial interactions mediated by soil exchangeable calcium. To address this knowledge gap, a research team led by Prof. WANG Kelin from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted extensive field investigations across southwest China.

  Apr 11, 2026
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  Synthetic Microbial Communities Significantly Enhance Humus Synthesis and Biosafety in Composting

  A research team led by Prof. LI Dejun from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made significant strides in using synthetic microbial communities (SynCom) to drive the efficient humification of organic waste and block the transmission of biological hazards. Their latest findings provide new insights into sustainable agriculture and were published across two recent studies.

  Apr 07, 2026
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  A Step Toward Global Standards: New Framework Advances Innate Immune Assessment in Animal Health

  A new study by Chinese scientists outlines a conceptual and methodological framework that could help unify how innate immune status is assessed across different studies and application scenarios.

  Mar 31, 2026