Effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen addition on soil organic carbon fractions in a subtropical forest

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated CO₂ concentration and nitrogen addition on soil organic carbon fractions in subtropical forests where the ambient N deposition was high.

Methods

Seedlings of typical subtropical forest ecosystems were transplanted in ten open-top chambers and grown under CO₂ and nitrogen treatments. The treatments included: 1) elevated CO₂ (700?μmol?mol^-1); 2) N addition of 100?kg NH₄NO₃ ha^-1?yr^-1; 3) combined elevated CO₂ and N addition; and 4) control. We measured soil total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), readily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC).

Results

Results showed that elevated CO₂ alone did not significantly affect soil TOC, POC and ROC after 4?years of treatment, but increased soil MBC and soil respiration compared to the control. N addition alone had no significant effect neither on soil TOC, POC and ROC, but decreased MBC and soil respiration over time. However, the elevated CO₂ and N addition together significantly increased soil POC and ROC, and had no significant effect on soil MBC.

Conclusions

This study indicated that even in N-rich subtropical forest ecosystems, inputs of N are still needed in order to sustain soil C accumulation under elevated CO₂.