Conversion to agroforestry and monoculture plantation is detrimental to the soil carbon and nitrogen cycles and microbial communities of a rainforest. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jinchuang; Zou, Yukun; Di Gioia, Diana; Singh, Brajesh K.; Li, Qinfen
• Is Part Of: Soil biology and biochemistry. Volume 147(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Rubber plantation -- High-throughput sequencing -- Soil organic matter -- Enzyme activities; Soil biochemistry -- Periodicals; Soil biology -- Periodicals; Sols -- Biochimie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Biologie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Bodembiologie; Biochemie; 631.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107849
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0717

Abstract

Abstract: The conversion of rainforests to plantations leads to about 50% loss in the organic carbon (C) content of the soil and strongly influences nitrogen (N) cycling, potentially increasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the effect of land-use change in forests on the microbial communities responsible for C and N cycling processes remains poorly understood. This study quantified C and N fractions of soil organic matter in a tropical forest, rubber agroforestry system, 5- and 15-year-old rubber plantations. The community structure and abundance of fungi and bacteria were studied using high-throughput sequencing and q-PCR. Forest conversion substantially altered community structure and abundance of microbial communities. Rainforest conversion to plantation enhanced bacterial diversity and reduced the soil C mineralization rate. In addition, land-use change also enhanced the soil N mineralization rate in 5-year-old rubber plantation and agroforestry system. A structural equation modelling suggested that soil microbial communities played more dominant roles in driving the shift in C and N cycles caused by land-use change than soil C and N pools. These mechanistic insights into the differential control of soil fungal and bacterial communities on C and N mineralization has implications for managing land-use changes in tropical forest ecosystems. Highlights: Rainforest conversion into rubber-based plantations decreased soil C and N pools. Bacterial abundance was reduced but oligotrophic bacteria are less affected by land-use change. Land-use change increased relative abundance of fungi. Shifts in the soil bacterial and fungal communities explained ecosystem functions.