Changes in plant inputs alter soil carbon and microbial communities in forest ecosystems. (10th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feng, Jiguang; He, Keyi; Zhang, Qiufang; Han, Mengguang; Zhu, Biao
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 28:Number 10(2022)
• Page Start: 3426
• Page End: 3440
• Publication Date: 2022-02-10
• Subjects: carbon cycling -- meta‐analysis -- microbial community -- mineral‐associated organic carbon -- nutrient pools -- particulate organic carbon -- plant detritus -- DIRT -- soil organic carbon; Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Eutrophication -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-1013

Abstract

Abstract: Global changes can alter plant inputs from both above‐ and belowground, which, thus, may differently affect soil carbon and microbial communities. However, the general patterns of how plant input changes affect them in forests remain unclear. By conducting a meta‐analysis of 3193 observations from 166 experiments worldwide, we found that alterations in aboveground litter and/or root inputs had profound effects on soil carbon and microbial communities in forest ecosystems. Litter addition stimulated soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and microbial biomass, whereas removal of litter, roots or both (no inputs) decreased them. The increased SOC under litter addition suggested that aboveground litter inputs benefit SOC sequestration despite accelerated decomposition. Unlike root removal, litter alterations and no inputs altered particulate organic carbon, whereas all detrital treatments did not significantly change mineral‐associated organic carbon. In addition, detrital treatments contrastingly altered soil microbial community, with litter addition or removal shifting it toward fungi, whereas root removal shifting it toward bacteria. Furthermore, the responses of soil carbon and microbial biomass to litter alterations positively correlated with litter input rate and total litter input, suggesting that litter input quantity is a critical controller of belowground processes. Taken together, these findings provide critical insights into understanding how altered plant productivity and allocation affects soil carbon cycling, microbial communities and functioning of forest ecosystems under global changes. Future studies can take full advantage of the existing plant detritus experiments and should focus on the relative roles of litter and roots in forming SOC and its fractions. Abstract : Alterations in plant inputs from litter and roots have profound effects on forest soil carbon and microbial communities. Litter addition stimulated soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass, while removal of litter, roots or both (no inputs) decreased them. The increased SOC under litter addition suggests that litter inputs benefit SOC sequestration despite accelerated decomposition. Unlike root removal, litter alterations and no inputs altered particulate organic carbon, while all detrital treatments did not significantly change mineral‐associated organic carbon. In addition, detrital treatments contrastingly altered soil microbial community composition, with litter addition or removal shifting it towards fungi, while root removal shifting it towards bacteria.