Abstract: Understanding the variation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities with heterogeneous habitats and seasonal changes are necessary for the rational use of plant symbiotic microorganisms to promote the restoration of degraded karst habitats. In the present study, seasonal variation of soil AMF communities and the influencing factors were investigated at two kinds of microhabitats (with rock exposure rates of >30% and <30%, respectively) within one hectare of karst shrubland in northwestern Guangxi. Illumina sequencing was used to determine AMF community structure and diversity. Eight genera and seven families of AMF were found. The genus Glomus and its species were the dominant genus and dominant species, respectively. Soil AMF community composition and structure were significantly distinct between summer and winter (P<0.05). The Shannon diversity and abundance of soil AMF communities in winter were higher than those in summer, respectively. The habitat type or the interaction between season and habitat type had no significant effect on AMF diversity. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that available phosphorus, available potassium and plant species richness significantly affected the composition and structure of soil AMF community in karst shrubland (P<0.01). The results provide theoretical basis for the rational use of plant and soil AMF symbiosis to promote the restoration of degraded vegetation in karst areas of southwest China.