Alpine grasslands have undergone severe desertification due to climate
warming and overgrazing. Artificial reseeding has been widely employed
for the restoration of these alpine sandy grasslands. However, its
effectiveness in enhancing biodiversity, as well as the consistency of
responses in aboveground plant diversity and belowground microbial
diversity, remains unclear. To investigate the impacts of artificial
reseeding on plant and microbial diversity of sandy meadows, we
conducted field investigations in alpine grasslands of the eastern
Tibetan Plateau that had undergone artificial reseeding, natural
restoration, or remained as sandy meadows. The findings revealed that
artificial reseeding yields inconsistent restoration outcomes for
aboveground plant diversity and belowground soil microbial diversity in
alpine sandy meadows, thereby altering the relationship between above-
and belowground biodiversity. Artificial reseeding significantly
promoted plant diversity in alpine sandy meadows, while its impact on
restoring soil microbial diversity was less pronounced. Introducing new
plant species through reseeding improved vegetation cover, plant
diversity, and fungal richness. In addition, artificial reseeding
altered soil properties, such as pH and nutrient content, which in turn
influenced the composition and structure of plant and microbial
communities. These results have essential implications for regional
ecological security and the sustainable development of alpine meadows.