Soil mono- and disaccharides and amino acids as influenced by plant litter and root processes in a subtropical moist forest of southwest China

Soil mono- and disaccharides (SS) and total free amino acids (AA) can influence soil microbial activities, whether they are derived from decomposition of organic materials or from plant root exudates. To quantify the relative importance of aboveground plant litter input and belowground inputs of root exudates and root debris on SS and AA, we conducted litter removal, root trenching and tree girdling experiments in a subtropical moist forest of southwest China. We found that concentrations of SS and AA had pronounced seasonal fluctuations. Litter removal markedly reduced SS concentrations, but it had no effect on AA concentrations. Concentrations of SS were significantly correlated with litterfall that had occurred 2 months earlier in the control plots, but that correlation was not observed in the litter removal plots. Multiple-linear regressions of soil respiration and soil temperature on AA concentrations were significant in both control and litter removal plots, but not in the root trenching or tree girdling plots. These results suggest that SS levels are likely to be regulated by aboveground plant litter input, and concentrations of AA are affected by microbial activity that fluctuates with soil temperature and belowground carbon input.