Characteristics and interactions of soil bacteria, phytocommunity and soil properties in rocky desertification ecosystems of Southwest China

•Rocky desertification grade significantly influence the interaction relationship of soil bacterial community–phytocommunity–edaphic property in karst ecosystems.•Rocky desertification grade is not the key factor affecting soil quality.•The bacterial community structure changed under different rocky desertification grades, but the function did not change.•There is a tendency to develop into large-area karst shallow fissures in intense rocky desertification area of Southwest China.