Abstract: In order understand the effects of vegetation restoration in karst peak-cluster depression area on the soil microbial properties, soil samples were collected from tussock (T), shrub (S), secondary forest (SF), and primary forest (PF), with their microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), basic respiration (SR), ratio of MBC to soil organic carbon (qMBC), and microbial metabolic quotient (qCO²) analyzed. In the process of vegetation restoration, the soil MBC, MBN, and qMBC had an increasing trend, qCO₂ was in reverse, and SR had less change, suggesting that soil quality was gradually improved during vegetation restoration (PF, SF>S>T). It was also found that the qMBC, SR, qCO₂, and MBN varied with season. From summer to winter, the SR, qCO_2, and MBN increased, while the qMBC decreased (except for T) (P<0.05). The MBC did not change significantly with season. Both MBN and qMBCwere correlated with soil organic matter and other microbial properties, and better reflected the changes of soil quality in karst peak-cluster depression area during vegetation restoration.

Key words: City, Green space, Ecosystem services, Green equivalent, Environment