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Effect of N addition, moisture, and temperature on soil microbial respiration and microbial biomass in forest soil at different stages of litter decomposition

  • Soils, Sec 1 • Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Nutrient Cycling • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of nitrogen (N) addition, temperature, and moisture on soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass, and metabolic quotient (qCO2) at different decomposition stages of different tree leaf litters.

Materials and methods

A laboratory incubation experiment with and without litter addition was conducted for 80 days at two temperatures (15 and 25 °C), two wetting intensities (35 and 50 % water-filled porosity space (WFPS)) and two doses of N addition (0 and 4.5 g N m−2, as NH4NO3). The tree leaf litters included three types of broadleaf litters, a needle litter, and a mixed litter of them. Soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass, and qCO2 along with other soil properties were measured at two decomposition stages of tree leaf litters.

Results and discussion

The increase in soil cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) flux and microbial biomass during the incubation depended on types of tree leaf litters, N addition, and hydrothermal conditions. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and N and qCO2 were significantly greater in all litter-amended than in non-amended soils. However, the difference in the qCO2 became smaller during the late period of incubation, especially at 25 °C. The interactive effect of temperature with soil moisture and N addition was significant for affecting the cumulative litter-derived CO2-C flux at the early and late stages of litter decomposition. Furthermore, the interactive effect of soil moisture and N addition was significant for affecting the cumulative CO2 flux at the late stage of litter decomposition but not early in the experiment.

Conclusions

This present study indicated that the effects of addition of N and hydrothermal conditions on soil microbial respiration, qCO2, and concentrations of labile C and N depended on types of tree leaf litters and the development of litter decomposition. The results highlight the importance of N availability and hydrothermal conditions in interactively regulating soil microbial respiration and microbial C utilization during litter decomposition under forest ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41175133, 41275166, 41321064, and 41575154). The authors thank three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Xingkai Xu, Lian Yin & Cuntao Duan

  2. School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Lian Yin & Yuanshu Jing

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  1. Xingkai Xu
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  2. Lian Yin
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  3. Cuntao Duan
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  4. Yuanshu Jing
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Correspondence to Xingkai Xu.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Xu, X., Yin, L., Duan, C. et al. Effect of N addition, moisture, and temperature on soil microbial respiration and microbial biomass in forest soil at different stages of litter decomposition. J Soils Sediments 16, 1421–1439 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1331-z

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