The recovery of the soil ecosystem after severe disturbances, such as coal-mining activities, depends on both abiotic and biotic improvements. This study assessed the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal consortia on microbial community dynamics across two stages of soil recovery - 2 years (2Y) and 15 years (15Y) post-disturbance - using a secondary succession forest (SSR) as a reference. We analyzed bacterial community composition via 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and evaluated key soil quality indicators. While inoculation with AM fungal consortia had minimal effects on most soil parameters, significant differences were observed between recovery stages. The 15Y recovery site exhibited improved soil structure, microbial activity, and aggregate stability compared to the 2Y site, highlighting the importance of long-term restoration. However, potential overlap in ecological roles among native microorganisms likely mitigates the impact of AMF inoculation. These findings suggest that AM fungal consortia alone may not drive immediate improvements in soil quality but can contribute to microbial interactions and recovery processes over time. This study highlights the complexity of soil restoration and emphasizes the need for strategies that integrate plant cover with microbial community development to enhance long-term ecosystem stability. Further research should explore the specific roles of AM fungi and native soil microbes in promoting soil structure and accelerating recovery.

Departamento de Ciências Naturais Blumenau Brazil

Department of Mycorrhizal Symbioses Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic

Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia Manaus Brazil

Laboratory of Fungal Biology Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic

Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Theodor Echtermeyer Weg 1 14979 Großbeeren Germany

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Florianópolis Brazil

Universidade Regional de Blumenau Programa de Pós Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental Blumenau Brazil

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