Response of litter decomposition and related soil enzyme activities to different forms of nitrogen fertilization in a subtropical forest

With the continuing increase in the impact of human activities on ecosystems, ecologists are increasingly becoming interested in understanding the effects of nitrogen deposition on litter decomposition. At present, numerous studies have investigated the effects of single form of nitrogen fertilization on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems. However, forms of N deposition vary, and changes in the relative importance of different forms of N deposition are expected in the future. Thus, identifying the effects of different forms of N deposition on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems is a pressing task. In this study, two dominant litter types were chosen from Zijin Mountain in China: Quercus acutissima leaves from a late succession broad-leaved forest and Pinus massoniana needles from an early succession coniferous forest. The litter samples were incubated in microcosms with original forest soil and treated with four different forms of nitrogen fertilization [NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ⁻, CO(NH₂)₂, and a mix of all three]. During a 5-month incubation period, litter mass losses, soil pH values, and soil enzyme activities were determined. Results show that all four forms of nitrogen fertilization significantly accelerate litter decomposition rates in the broadleaf forest, while only two forms of nitrogen fertilization [i.e., mixed nitrogen and CO(NH₂)₂] significantly accelerate litter decomposition rates in the coniferous forest. Litter decomposition rates with the mixed nitrogen fertilization were higher than those in any single form of nitrogen fertilization. All forms of nitrogen fertilization enhanced soil enzyme activities (i.e., catalase, cellulase, invertase, polyphenol oxidase, nitrate reductase, urease, and acid phosphatase) during the litter decomposition process for the two forest types. Soil enzyme activities under the mixed nitrogen fertilization were higher than those under any single form of nitrogen fertilization. These results suggest that the type and activity of the major degradative enzymes involved in litter decomposition vary in different forest types under different forms of nitrogen fertilization. They also indicate that a long-term consequence of N deposition-induced acceleration of litter decomposition rates in subtropical forests may be the release of carbon stored belowground to the atmosphere.     

Effects of Single Chinese Fir and Mixed Leaf Litters on Soil Chemical, Microbial Properties and Soil Enzyme Activities

The quality of leaf litter can control decomposition processes and affect the nutrient availability for plant uptake. In this study, we investigated the effect of single leaf litter (Chinese fir – Cunninghamia lamcealata (Lamb.) Hook) and mixed leaf litters (C. lamcealata, Liquidamba formosana Hance and Alnus cremastogyne Burk) on soil chemical properties, soil microbial properties and soil enzyme activities during 2 years decomposition. The results showed that soil microbial biomass C, the ratio of soil microbial biomass C to total soil organic C (soil microbial quotient, Cmic/Corg) and soil enzymes (urease, invertase, dehydrogenase) activities increased significantly in mixed leaf litters treatments whereas soil chemical properties remained unchanged. However, soil microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂) values and soil polyphenol oxidase activity were higher in the single Chinese fir leaf litter treatment that had a higher C:N (carbon:nitrogen) ratio (79.53) compared with the mixed leaf litter (C:N ratios of 76.32, 56.90, 61.20, respectively). Our results demonstrated that the mixed leaf litter can improve forest soil quality, and that soil microbial properties and soil enzyme activities are more sensitive in response to litter quality change than soil chemical properties.     

Soil Biochemical Responses to Nitrogen Addition in a Bamboo Forest

Many vital ecosystem processes take place in the soils and are greatly affected by the increasing active nitrogen (N) deposition observed globally. Nitrogen deposition generally affects ecosystem processes through the changes in soil biochemical properties such as soil nutrient availability, microbial properties and enzyme activities. In order to evaluate the soil biochemical responses to elevated atmospheric N deposition in bamboo forest ecosystems, a two-year field N addition experiment in a hybrid bamboo (Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis daii) plantation was conducted. Four levels of N treatment were applied: (1) control (CK, without N added), (2) low-nitrogen (LN, 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), (3) medium-nitrogen (MN, 150 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), and (4) high-nitrogen (HN, 300 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Results indicated that N addition significantly increased the concentrations of NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ⁻, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass N, the rates of nitrification and denitrification; significantly decreased soil pH and the concentration of available phosphorus, and had no effect on the total organic carbon and total N concentration in the 0–20 cm soil depth. Nitrogen addition significantly stimulated activities of hydrolytic enzyme that acquiring N (urease) and phosphorus (acid phosphatase) and depressed the oxidative enzymes (phenol oxidase, peroxidase and catalase) activities. Results suggest that (1) this bamboo forest ecosystem is moving towards being limited by P or co-limited by P under elevated N deposition, (2) the expected progressive increases in N deposition may have a potential important effect on forest litter decomposition due to the interaction of inorganic N and oxidative enzyme activities, in such bamboo forests under high levels of ambient N deposition.     

Response of Litter Decomposition to Simulated N Deposition in Disturbed, Rehabilitated and Mature Forests in Subtropical China

The response of decomposition of litter for the dominant tree species in disturbed (pine), rehabilitated (pine and broadleaf mixed) and mature (monsoon evergreen broadleaf) forests in subtropical China to simulated N deposition was studied to address the following hypothesis: (1) litter decomposition is faster in mature forest (high soil N availability) than in rehabilitated/disturbed forests (low soil N availability); (2) litter decomposition is stimulated by N addition in rehabilitated and disturbed forests due to their low soil N availability; (3) N addition has little effect on litter decomposition in mature forest due to its high soil N availability. The litterbag method (a total of 2880 litterbags) and N treatments: Control-no N addition, Low-N: −5 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, Medium-N: −10 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, and High-N: −15 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, were employed to evaluate decomposition_. Results indicated that mature forest, which has likely been N saturated due to both long-term high N deposition in the region and the age of the ecosystem, had the highest litter decomposition rate, and exhibited no significant positive and even some negative response to nitrogen additions. However, both disturbed and rehabilitated forests, which are still N limited due to previous land use history, exhibited slower litter decomposition rates with significant positive effects from nitrogen additions. These results suggest that litter decomposition and its responses to N addition in subtropical forests of China vary depending on the nitrogen status of the ecosystem.     

Whole-stream nitrate addition affects litter decomposition and associated fungi but not invertebrates

We assessed the effect of whole-stream nitrate enrichment on decomposition of three substrates differing in nutrient quality (alder and oak leaves and balsa veneers) and associated fungi and invertebrates. During the 3-month nitrate enrichment of a headwater stream in central Portugal, litter was incubated in the reference site (mean NO₃-N 82 μg l⁻¹) and four enriched sites along the nitrate gradient (214–983 μg NO₃-N l⁻¹). A similar decomposition experiment was also carried out in the same sites at ambient nutrient conditions the following year (33–104 μg NO₃-N l⁻¹). Decomposition rates and sporulation of aquatic hyphomycetes associated with litter were determined in both experiments, whereas N and P content of litter, associated fungal biomass and invertebrates were followed only during the nitrate addition experiment. Nitrate enrichment stimulated decomposition of oak leaves and balsa veneers, fungal biomass accrual on alder leaves and balsa veneers and sporulation of aquatic hyphomycetes on all substrates. Nitrate concentration in stream water showed a strong asymptotic relationship (Michaelis–Menten-type saturation model) with temperature-adjusted decomposition rates and percentage initial litter mass converted into aquatic hyphomycete conidia for all substrates. Fungal communities did not differ significantly among sites but some species showed substrate preferences. Nevertheless, certain species were sensitive to nitrogen concentration in water by increasing or decreasing their sporulation rate accordingly. N and P content of litter and abundances or richness of litter-associated invertebrates were not affected by nitrate addition. It appears that microbial nitrogen demands can be met at relatively low levels of dissolved nitrate, suggesting that even minor increases in nitrogen in streams due to, e.g., anthropogenic eutrophication may lead to significant shifts in microbial dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available to authorised users in the online version of this article at .     

A closeup study of early beech litter decomposition: potential drivers and microbial interactions on a changing substrate

Aims

Litter decomposition and subsequent nutrient release play a major role in forest carbon and nutrient cycling. To elucidate how soluble or bulk nutrient ratios affect the decomposition process of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) litter, we conducted a microcosm experiment over an 8 week period. Specifically, we investigated leaf-litter from four Austrian forested sites, which varied in elemental composition (C:N:P ratio). Our aim was to gain a mechanistic understanding of early decomposition processes and to determine microbial community changes.

Methods

We measured initial litter chemistry, microbial activity in terms of respiration (CO₂), litter mass loss, microbial biomass C and N (C_mic and N_mic), non purgeable organic carbon (NPOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^- and microbial community composition (phospholipid fatty acids – PLFAs).

Results

At the beginning of the experiment microbial biomass increased and pools of inorganic nitrogen (N) decreased, followed by an increase in fungal PLFAs. Sites higher in NPOC:TDN (C:N of non purgeable organic C and total dissolved N), K and Mn showed higher respiration.

Conclusions

The C:N ratio of the dissolved pool, rather than the quantity of N, was the major driver of decomposition rates. We saw dynamic changes in the microbial community from the beginning through the termination of the experiment.     

Temporal dynamics of exchangeable K, Ca and Mg in acidic bulk soil and rhizosphere under Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition significantly affects forest soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzymatic activities (EEA). However, the influence of mixed N fertilizations on soil microbial biomass and EEA remains unclear. In this work, NH₄NO₃ was chosen as inorganic N, while urea and glycine were chosen as organic N. They were used to fertilize subtropical forest soil monthly for 1 year with different ratios (inorganic N : organic N?=?10 : 0, 7 : 3, 3 : 7 and 1 : 9 respectively.) and N inputs were equivalent to 7.2 g?N?m^?2?y^?1. Soil samples were harvested every 2 months. Subsequently, soil microbial biomass and enzymatic activities were assayed. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) and principle components analysis (PCA) were utilized to illustrate the relationship between soil microbial biomass and EEA. Results showed that soil EEA displayed different changes in response to various mixed N fertilizations. Invertase, cellulase, cellobiohydrolase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase activities under mixed N fertilization were higher than those of single inorganic N (NH₄NO₃) fertilization. Polyphenol oxidase activities were depressed after inorganic N fertilization and accelerated after mixed N fertilization. Acid phosphatase activities were accelerated in all N fertilization plots, while the influence of various mixed N fertilizations were not significant. Soil microbial biomass was enhanced by mixed N fertilization, while no significant changes were observed after inorganic N fertilization. The result revealed that although N fertilization may alleviate soil N-limitation, single inorganic N fertilization may disturb the balance of inorganic N and organic N, and depress the increases of soil enzymatic activities and microbial biomass in the end. Soil enzymes activities and microbial biomass showed the highest activities after medium organic N fertilization (inorganic : organic N?=?3 : 7), which might be the most suitable N fertilizer for soil microbes. Meanwhile, PCA showed that the alleviation of N-limited reached a maximum after medium organic N fertilization. All results indicated that soil EEA, microbial biomass, and their relationship are all affected by N type and inorganic to organic N ratio.     

亚热带次级森林演替过程中模拟氮磷沉降对土壤微生物生物量及土壤养分的影响

氮（N）沉降深刻影响着森林生态系统的生物多样性、生产力和稳定性。亚热带地区森林土壤磷（P）的有效性较低,N沉降将更突显P的限制作用。N、P输入对亚热带次级森林土壤的影响是否依赖于森林演替阶段知之甚少。选取两种不同演替年龄阶段（年轻林：<40 a;老年林：>85 a）的亚热带常绿阔叶林,设置模拟N和/或P沉降（10 g m^-2 a^-1）4个处理（Ctrl、N、P、NP）,连续处理4.5年后采集表层、次表层和下底层（0-15、15-30、30-60 cm）土壤样品,综合分析了土壤微生物生物量碳（MBC）氮（MBN）和多种土壤养分含量。结果表明,MBC、MBN及土壤养分含量均随土壤深度增加而降低。N添加对两种演替阶段森林土壤中MBC和MBN均无显著影响。施P相关处理（P和NP）对年轻林表层土壤MBC和MBN无显著影响,但显著增加了老年林表层土壤MBC和MBN（P<0.05）,表明老年林可能比年轻林更易受P限制。N添加显著增加了两种演替森林表层土壤可溶性有机氮（DON）、氨态氮（NH₄⁺-N）和硝态氮（NO₃^--N）的含量（P<0.05）;P相关处理（P和NP）显著增加两种演替阶段表层和次表层土壤速效磷（AP）以及表层土壤全磷（TP）的含量（P<0.05）。土壤MBC和MBN与土壤中各养分指标（可溶性有机碳DOC、DON、NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N、AP、全碳TC、全氮TN和TP）呈显著正相关关系,土壤TC、TN和DOC是影响土壤微生物生物量的主要因子。研究可为评估和揭示未来全球环境变化背景下不同演替林龄亚热带森林的土肥潜力及土壤质量的演变提供一定的科学理论依据。     

Nitrogen addition alters mineralization dynamics of 13C‐depleted leaf and twig litter and reduces leaching of older DOC from mineral soil

Recent reviews indicate that N deposition increases soil organic matter (SOM) storage in forests but the undelying processes are poorly understood. Our aim was to quantify the impacts of increased N inputs on soil C fluxes such as C mineralization and leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from different litter materials and native SOM. We added 5.5 g N m^?2 yr^?1 as NH₄NO₃ over 1 year to two beech forest stands on calcareous soils in the Swiss Jura. We replaced the native litter layer with ¹³C‐depleted twigs and leaves (δ¹³C: ?38.4 and ?40.8‰) in late fall and measured N effects on litter‐ and SOM‐derived C fluxes. Nitrogen addition did not significantly affect annual C losses through mineralization, but altered the temporal dynamics in litter mineralization: increased N inputs stimulated initial mineralization during winter (leaves: +25%; twigs: +22%), but suppressed rates in the subsequent summer. The switch from a positive to a negative response occurred earlier and more strongly for leaves than for twigs (?21% vs. 0%). Nitrogen addition did not influence microbial respiration from the nonlabeled calcareous mineral soil below the litter which contrasts with recent meta‐analysis primarily based on acidic soils. Leaching of DOC from the litter layer was not affected by NH₄NO₃ additions, but DOC fluxes from the mineral soils at 5 and 10 cm depth were significantly reduced by 17%. The ¹³C tracking indicated that litter‐derived C contributed less than 15% of the DOC flux from the mineral soil, with N additions not affecting this fraction. Hence, the suppressed DOC fluxes from the mineral soil at higher N inputs can be attributed to reduced mobilization of nonlitter derived ‘older’ DOC. We relate this decline to an altered solute chemistry by NH₄NO₃ additions, an increased ionic strength and acidification resulting from nitrification, rather than to a change in microbial decomposition.     

Correlation of foliage and litter chemistry of sugar maple, Acer saccharum, as affected by elevated CO2 and varying N availability, and effects on decomposition

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide has the potential to alter leaf litter chemistry, potentially affecting decomposition and rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling in forest ecosystems. This study was conducted to determine whether growth under elevated atmospheric CO₂ altered the quality and microbial decomposition of leaf litter of a widely distributed northern hardwood species at sites of low and high soil nitrogen availability. In addition, we assessed whether the carbon–nutrient balance (CNB) and growth differentiation balance (GDB) hypotheses could be extended to predict changes in litter quality in response to resource availability. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) was grown in the field in open‐top chambers at 36 and 55 Pa partial pressure CO₂, and initial soil mineralization rates of 45 and 348 μg N g^?1 d^?1. Naturally senesced leaf litter was assessed for chemical composition and incubated in the laboratory for 111 d. Microbial respiration and the production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were quantified as estimates of decomposition. Elevated CO₂ and low soil nitrogen resulted in higher litter concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates and condensed tannins, higher C/N ratios and lower N concentrations. Soil N availability appears to have had a greater effect on litter quality than did atmospheric CO₂, although the treatments were additive, with highest concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates and condensed tannins occurring under elevated CO₂–low soil N. Rates of microbial respiration and the production of DOC were insensitive to differences in litter quality. In general, concentrations of litter constituents, except for starch, were highly correlated to those in live foliage, and the CNB/GDB hypotheses proved useful in predicting changes in litter quality. We conclude the chemical composition of sugar maple litter will change in the future in response to rising atmospheric CO₂, and that soil N availability will exert a major control. It appears that microbial metabolism will not be directly affected by changes in litter quality, although conclusions regarding decomposition as a whole must consider the entire soil food web.     

不同肥力棕壤全氮和微生物量氮对外源玉米残体氮的响应

以棕壤玉米长期连作定位试验(27a)形成的高低两种肥力水平土壤为研究对象,采用~(15)N标记的玉米植株为试验试材,分别向两种土壤中加入玉米根、茎、叶(共8个处理),采用室内模拟培养与~(15)N同位素示踪技术,旨在弄清玉米根、茎、叶添加后不同肥力土壤全氮含量及微生物量氮的变化规律。结果表明:(1)添加玉米根、茎、叶后低肥力棕壤全氮含量提升幅度分别比高肥力棕壤高5.75%、4.77%和3.75%,外源新氮的贡献率分别比高肥力棕壤高3.54%、3.28%和2.49%,说明不同肥力土壤对玉米残体添加的响应程度不同,低肥力棕壤对外源新氮施入后的响应更敏感,固定能力更强。(2)在添加玉米残体的56d培养时间内,低肥力棕壤中微生物量氮平均增加0.83—0.98倍,高肥力棕壤中微生物量氮平均增加0.87—1.56倍,可以看出不同部位玉米植株添加后均能显著促进土壤微生物量氮的积累,说明外源有机物输入是刺激土壤微生物数量和活性的重要因素,并且在高肥力土壤中刺激作用更加显著。此外,高肥力土壤添加茎和叶处理微生物量氮显著高于根添加处理,但低肥力土壤中根、茎和叶添加处理土壤中微生物量氮之间无显著差异。外源有机氮输入对土壤氮库的贡献与土壤的肥力水平及不同残体部位自身的物质组成特性密切相关。     

氮添加对戴云山黄山松林土壤有机氮解聚酶活性的影响及其调控因素

解聚作用是控制土壤有机氮矿化和氮素有效性供应的关键,然而氮沉降对亚热带森林土壤有机氮解聚作用的影响机制尚不明确。以福建戴云山黄山松林为研究对象,设置对照（CT）、低氮（LN）和高氮（HN）3个氮添加水平,进行为期2年的氮沉降模拟试验。通过分析土壤化学性质、微生物生物量和土壤8种有机氮解聚酶活性的变化,探究土壤有机氮解聚作用响应氮沉降的机理过程。结果表明：短期氮添加显著增加0-10 cm和10-20 cm土层矿质氮含量,并显著增加了10-20 cm土层微生物生物量碳（MBC）的含量。同时,0-10 cm土壤锰过氧化物酶活性随氮添加量增加而显著提高,HN处理下土壤漆酶活性显著高于LN和CT;10-20 cm土壤的酸性蛋白酶、碱性蛋白酶、中性蛋白酶和漆酶活性均随氮添加量增加而显著提高,但是谷氨酰胺酶活性变化相反。冗余分析表明两个土层有机氮解聚酶活性影响因素不同,土壤硝态氮（NO₃^--N）是0-10 cm土层有机氮解聚酶活性的主要影响因素,而10-20 cm土层有机氮解聚酶活性由NO₃^--N和MBC共同影响。综上所述,亚热带黄山松林土壤不同有机氮解聚酶对氮添加的响应不一致,主要受土壤NO₃^--N和MBC调节。该研究有助于拓宽土壤氮循环对氮沉降的响应机理,同时对维持土壤有效氮含量和提高黄山松生态系统生产力具有重要意义。     

模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落叶分解过程微生物生物量的影响

为进一步深化氮沉降对凋落物分解影响的研究,2016年3月—2017年3月,在华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林内,用凋落叶分解袋法研究了模拟氮沉降对凋落叶分解过程中微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)和微生物生物量磷(MBP)的影响。实验设置了对照(0 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(5 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮(15 g Nm~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮沉降(30 g N m~(-2)a~(-1)) 4个处理。结果表明:低氮和中氮处理显著增加了凋落叶分解过程中的MBC和MBN,以低氮处理增加幅度最高;低氮和中氮处理对凋落叶分解过程中的MBP影响不显著;高氮处理显著降低了分解过程中的MBC、MBN和MBP。随模拟氮沉降量的递增,凋落叶分解过程中微生物生物量碳氮比逐渐减少,微生物生物量碳磷比呈现先增加后下降的趋势。研究结果说明,氮沉降影响了华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落物分解过程中微生物生物量,进而改变了凋落物的分解过程。     

Microbial biomass and nitrogen cycling responses to fertilization and litter removal in young northern hardwood forests

The influence of site fertility on soil microbial biomass and activity is not well understood but is likely to be complex because of interactions with plant responses to nutrient availability. We examined the effects of long-term (8 yr) fertilization and litter removal on forest floor microbial biomass and N and C transformations to test the hypothesis that higher soil resource availability stimulates microbial activity. Microbial biomass and respiration decreased by 20–30 % in response to fertilization. Microbial C averaged 3.8 mg C/g soil in fertilized, 5.8 mg C/g in control, and 5.5 mg C/g in litter removal plots. Microbial respiration was 200 µg CO₂-C g^–1 d^–1 in fertilized plots, compared to 270 µg CO₂-C g^–1 d^–1 in controls. Gross N mineralization and N immobilization did not differ among treatments, despite higher litter nutrient concentrations in fertilized plots and the removal of substantial quantities of C and N in litter removal plots. Net N mineralization was significantly reduced by fertilization. Gross nitrification and NO₃ ^– immobilization both were increased by fertilization. Nitrate thus became a more important part of microbial N cycling in fertilized plots even though NH₄ ⁺ availability was not stimulated by fertilization.Soil microorganisms did not mineralize more C or N in response to fertilization and higher litter quality; instead, results suggest a difference in the physiological status of microbial biomass in fertilized plots that influenced N transformations. Respiration quotients (qCO₂, respiration per unit biomass) were higher in fertilized plots (56 µg CO₂-C mg C^–1 d^–1) than control (48 µg CO₂-C mg C^–1 d ^–1) or litter removal (45 µg CO₂-C mg C^–1 d^–1), corresponding to higher microbial growth efficiency, higher proportions of gross mineralization immobilized, and lower net N mineralization in fertilized plots. While microbial biomass is an important labile nutrient pool, patterns of microbial growth and turnover were distinct from this pool and were more important to microbial function in nitrogen cycling.     

Litterfall interception by understorey vegetation delayed litter decomposition in Cinnamomum camphora plantation forest

Aims

This study was carried out to improve our understanding of the interception effect of understorey vegetation on litter decomposition in Cinnamomum camphora plantation forest of subtropical China.

Methods

The interception simulation experiment in field was performed to determine how the litterfall interception delayed the leaf litter decomposition of C. camphora, by comparing the difference in variables among 4 litter interception locations.

Results

The results showed that total mass loss, lignin loss, cellulose loss, microbial activities (CO₂ release, fungal biomass and enzyme activities), and water content except nitrogen for litters on the crown were significantly lower than that of litters without interception. The maximum mass loss difference value among litter locations reached 35 %, indicative of obvious decomposition delay by the understorey. Litter CO₂ release, enzyme activities and water content exhibited a clear seasonal pattern, suggesting a strong relation between the degree of microbial activities and the succession of cold and warm as well as moist and dry periods. A clear nitrogen increase was observed in this experiment, indicating persistent immobilization. No clear variation pattern in nitrogen content was observed in this study, which was probably mixed by the N precipitation from acid rain.

Conclusions

The litterfall interception delayed the decomposition of leaf litter, displaying slow decomposition rate and inhibitive microbial activities by interception, which presumably resulted from low water content on the crown.     

模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区撑绿 杂交竹凋落物分解的影响

从2008年1月至2010年1月,对华西雨屏区撑绿杂交竹(Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocala mopsi)人工林进行了模拟氮沉降试验,氮沉降水平分别为对照(CK, 0 g · m^-2 · a^-1)、低氮(5 g · m^-2 · a^-1)、中氮(15 g · hm^-2 · a^-1)和高氮(30 g · m^-2 · a^-1)。利用凋落袋法对杂交竹凋落叶和凋落箨进行原位分解试验,并在每月下旬定量地对各处理施氮(NH₄NO₃)。结果表明,自然状态下杂交竹凋落叶和凋落箨分解95%所需时间分别为2.9,1.5 a;氮沉降显著抑制了凋落叶的分解,在分解后期3个氮沉降处理凋落叶无灰分质量残留率均显著大于对照,氮沉降对凋落箨分解无明显影响;氮沉降显著抑制了凋落叶中木质素和纤维素的分解。杂交竹凋落叶在分解后期质量损失缓慢,处于较稳定状态,氮沉降的增加使得凋落物的残留率稳定在一个更高的水平,表明氮沉降的增加可能会使更多的凋落物残体和稳定有机质留存于杂交竹林土壤中,从而增加杂交竹林土壤碳贮存。     

Temporal Dynamics of Abiotic and Biotic Factors on Leaf Litter of Three Plant Species in Relation to Decomposition Rate along a Subalpine Elevation Gradient

Relationships between abiotic (soil temperature and number of freeze-thaw cycles) or biotic factors (chemical elements, microbial biomass, extracellular enzymes, and decomposer communities in litter) and litter decomposition rates were investigated over two years in subalpine forests close to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. Litterbags with senescent birch, fir, and spruce leaves were placed on the forest floor at 2,704 m, 3,023 m, 3,298 m, and 3,582 m elevation. Results showed that the decomposition rate positively correlated with soil mean temperature during the plant growing season, and with the number of soil freeze-thaw cycles during the winter. Concentrations of soluble nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) had positive effects but C:N and lignin:N ratios had negative effects on the decomposition rate (k), especially during the winter. Meanwhile, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), N (MBN), and P (MBP) were positively correlated with k values during the first growing season. These biotic factors accounted for 60.0% and 56.4% of the variation in decomposition rate during the winter and the growing season in the first year, respectively. Specifically, litter chemistry (C, N, P, K, lignin, C:N and lignin:N ratio) independently explained 29.6% and 13.3%, and the microbe-related factors (MBC, MBN, MBP, bacterial and fungal biomass, sucrase and ACP activity) explained 22.9% and 34.9% during the first winter and the first growing season, respectively. We conclude that frequent freeze-thaw cycles and litter chemical properties determine the winter decomposition while microbe-related factors play more important roles in determining decomposition in the subsequent growing season.     

Microbial transformations of C and N in a boreal forest floor as affected by temperature

The effects of temperature on N mineralization were studied in two organic surface horizons (LF and H) of soil from a boreal forest. The soil was incubated at 5 °C and 15 °C after adding ¹⁵ N and gross N fluxes were calculated using a numerical simulation model. The model was calibrated on microbial C and N, basal respiration, and KCl-extractable NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ⁻, ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ and ¹⁵ NO₃ ⁻. In the LF layer, increased temperature resulted in a faster turnover of all N pools. In both layers net N mineralization did not increase at elevated temperature because both gross NH₄ ⁺ mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization increased. In the H layer, however, both gross NH₄ ⁺ mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization were lower at 15 °C than at 5 °C and the model predicted a decrease in microbial turnover rate at higher temperature although measured microbial activity was higher. The decrease in gross N fluxes in spite of increased microbial activity in the H layer at elevated temperature may have been caused by uptake of organic N. The model predicted a decrease in pool size of labile organic matter and microbial biomass at elevated temperature whereas the amount of refractory organic matter increased. Temperature averaged microbial C/N ratio was 14.7 in the LF layer suggesting a fungi-dominated decomposer community whereas it was 7.3 in the H layer, probably due to predominance of bacteria. Respiration and microbial C were difficult to fit using the model if the microbial C/N ratio was kept constant with time. A separate ¹⁵N-enrichment study with the addition of glucose showed that glucose was metabolized faster in the LF than in the H layer. In both layers, decomposition of organic matter appeared to be limited by C availability. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The response of microbial biomass and hydrolytic enzymes to a decade of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium addition in a lowland tropical rain forest

Nutrient availability is widely considered to constrain primary productivity in lowland tropical forests, yet there is little comparable information for the soil microbial biomass. We assessed microbial nutrient limitation by quantifying soil microbial biomass and hydrolytic enzyme activities in a long-term nutrient addition experiment in lowland tropical rain forest in central Panama. Multiple measurements were made over an annual cycle in plots that had received a decade of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrient addition. Phosphorus addition increased soil microbial carbon (13 %), nitrogen (21 %), and phosphorus (49 %), decreased phosphatase activity by ~65 % and N-acetyl β-glucosaminidase activity by 24 %, but did not affect β-glucosidase activity. In contrast, addition of nitrogen, potassium, or micronutrients did not significantly affect microbial biomass or the activity of any enzyme. Microbial nutrients and hydrolytic enzyme activities all declined markedly in the dry season, with the change in microbial biomass equivalent to or greater than the annual nutrient flux in fine litter fall. Although multiple nutrients limit tree productivity at this site, we conclude that phosphorus limits microbial biomass in this strongly-weathered lowland tropical forest soil. This finding indicates that efforts to include enzymes in biogeochemical models must account for the disproportionate microbial investment in phosphorus acquisition in strongly-weathered soils.     

氮添加对巴音布鲁克高寒湿地土壤微生物量和酶活性的影响

随着全球氮沉降速率的快速增加,已对陆地生态系统微生物群落活性和代谢产生了深刻的影响。因此迫切需要了解全球气候变化敏感区土壤中微生物量和酶活性对氮添加的响应。为此,以中亚干旱区巴音布鲁克高寒湿地为研究对象,在保护良好的高寒湿地选择沼泽(S)、沼泽草甸(SM)和草甸(M)3种湿地类型布设野外原位氮添加试验(施氮浓度分别为0、8、16 kg N hm^-2 a^-1),探究短期氮添加对土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量碳/氮(MBC/MBN)、微生物商(QMB)、土壤蛋白酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶、H₂O₂酶和蔗糖酶活性的影响。结果表明:(1)高寒湿地不同湿地类型土壤微生物量和酶活性存在显著差异,其中SM土壤MBC、MBN、MBC\\N、QMB较S和M区高,对酶活性而言,SM和M区土壤蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶活性较高,M区H₂O₂酶和脲酶活性较高。(2)氮添加显著增加了3种湿地类型中土壤MBC和MBN,其中MBC增加了7.00%-119.00%,MBN增加了8.03%-38.26%。氮添加仅显著增加了S和SM区土壤MBC/N和QMB (增加了24.68%-113.10%),但抑制了M区土壤MBC/N和QMB (抑制了8.93%-10.36%)。(3)氮添加显著增加了3种湿地类型土壤中脲酶、蛋白酶和H₂O₂酶活性,分别增加了7.25%-59.63%、4.71%-58.55%和34.70%-157.27%。但是氮添加对土壤碱性磷酸酶活性无显著影响。对蔗糖酶而言,N1处理增加了S区土壤蔗糖酶活性(增加了58.58%),而N2处理显著降低了22.72%。氮添加对SM和M区蔗糖酶活性无显著影响。(4)结构方程模型的结果显示,氮添加直接增加了土壤微生物量和酶活性。而随着湿地类型的变化(S-SM-M)直接和间接(通过pH)增加了酶活性;湿地类型的变化还通过影响pH、有机碳和有效养分间接增加了土壤微生物量。总之,氮添加和湿地类型可直接或间接的影响着土壤微生物量和酶活性。其中,土壤pH和有机碳是微生物量和酶活性变化的主要影响因素。本研究可为中亚干旱区高寒湿地应对未来气候变化的措施的制定提供技术参考。