Contrasting patterns of microbial nutrient limitations between rhizosphere and bulk soil during stump sprout restoration in a clear-cut oak forest

•Soil microbes were co-limited by the C and P during oak forest restoration, but these limitations tended to decrease gradually.•Rhizosphere soil microorganisms were subject to relatively strong C limitation and weak P limitation compared with those in bulk soil.•Microbial C and P limitation in the rhizosphere soil were mainly dependent on the DOC and Olsen−P.•An increase in the soil water content decreased the relative P limitation for the rhizosphere microbial community.