Influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of China
Abstract Background Microbial residues are significant contributors to stable soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil aggregates effectively protect microbial residues against decomposition; thus, microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates determine long-term SOC stability. Howeve...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Ecological Processes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00444-x |
| _version_ | 1797779034287898624 |
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| author | Yanli Jing Xuechao Zhao Shengen Liu Peng Tian Zhaolin Sun Longchi Chen Qingkui Wang |
| author_facet | Yanli Jing Xuechao Zhao Shengen Liu Peng Tian Zhaolin Sun Longchi Chen Qingkui Wang |
| author_sort | Yanli Jing |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Microbial residues are significant contributors to stable soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil aggregates effectively protect microbial residues against decomposition; thus, microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates determine long-term SOC stability. However, how tree species influence accumulation and distribution of soil microbial residues remains largely unknown, hindering the chances to develop policies for SOC management. Here, we investigated microbial residue accumulation and distribution in soil aggregates under four subtropical tree species (Cunninghamia lanceolata, Pinus massoniana, Michelia macclurei, and Schima superba) after 29 years of afforestation. Results Accumulation of microbial residues in the 0–10 cm soil layer was 13.8–26.7% higher under S. superba than that under the other tree species. A structural equation model revealed that tree species affected the accumulation of microbial residues directly by altering fungal biomass. Additionally, tree species significantly affected microbial residue distribution and contribution to SOC in the top 20 cm soil. In particular, microbial residue distribution was 17.2–33.4% lower in large macro-aggregates (LMA) but 60.1–140.7% higher in micro-aggregates (MA) under S. superba than that under the other species in the 0–10 cm soil layer, and 14.3–19.0% lower in LMA but 43–52.1% higher in MA under S. superba than that under C. lanceolata and M. macclurei in the 10–20 cm soil layer. Moreover, the contribution of microbial residues to SOC was 44.4–47.5% higher under S. superba than under the other tree species. These findings suggest a higher stability of microbial residues under S. superba than that under the other studied tree species. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that tree species influence long-term microbial persistence in forest soils by affecting accumulation and stabilization of microbial residues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:25:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1be64a76053445b9834a544762f60f71 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2192-1709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:25:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Processes |
| spelling | doaj.art-1be64a76053445b9834a544762f60f712023-07-16T11:09:45ZengSpringerOpenEcological Processes2192-17092023-07-0112111110.1186/s13717-023-00444-xInfluence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of ChinaYanli Jing0Xuechao Zhao1Shengen Liu2Peng Tian3Zhaolin Sun4Longchi Chen5Qingkui Wang6Ecology Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Teachers’ CollegeHuitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied EcologyCollege of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges UniversitySchool of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural UniversitySchool of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural UniversityHuitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied EcologyHuitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied EcologyAbstract Background Microbial residues are significant contributors to stable soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil aggregates effectively protect microbial residues against decomposition; thus, microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates determine long-term SOC stability. However, how tree species influence accumulation and distribution of soil microbial residues remains largely unknown, hindering the chances to develop policies for SOC management. Here, we investigated microbial residue accumulation and distribution in soil aggregates under four subtropical tree species (Cunninghamia lanceolata, Pinus massoniana, Michelia macclurei, and Schima superba) after 29 years of afforestation. Results Accumulation of microbial residues in the 0–10 cm soil layer was 13.8–26.7% higher under S. superba than that under the other tree species. A structural equation model revealed that tree species affected the accumulation of microbial residues directly by altering fungal biomass. Additionally, tree species significantly affected microbial residue distribution and contribution to SOC in the top 20 cm soil. In particular, microbial residue distribution was 17.2–33.4% lower in large macro-aggregates (LMA) but 60.1–140.7% higher in micro-aggregates (MA) under S. superba than that under the other species in the 0–10 cm soil layer, and 14.3–19.0% lower in LMA but 43–52.1% higher in MA under S. superba than that under C. lanceolata and M. macclurei in the 10–20 cm soil layer. Moreover, the contribution of microbial residues to SOC was 44.4–47.5% higher under S. superba than under the other tree species. These findings suggest a higher stability of microbial residues under S. superba than that under the other studied tree species. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that tree species influence long-term microbial persistence in forest soils by affecting accumulation and stabilization of microbial residues.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00444-xTree speciesPLFAAmino sugarSoil aggregateSubtropical plantation |
| spellingShingle | Yanli Jing Xuechao Zhao Shengen Liu Peng Tian Zhaolin Sun Longchi Chen Qingkui Wang Influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of China Ecological Processes Tree species PLFA Amino sugar Soil aggregate Subtropical plantation |
| title | Influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of China |
| title_full | Influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of China |
| title_fullStr | Influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of China |
| title_short | Influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of China |
| title_sort | influence of tree species on soil microbial residue accumulation and distribution among soil aggregates in subtropical plantations of china |
| topic | Tree species PLFA Amino sugar Soil aggregate Subtropical plantation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00444-x |
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