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Short-term elevated O3 exerts stronger effects on soil nitrification than does CO2, but jointly promotes soil denitrification

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Abstract

Aims

Atmospheric CO2 and O3 concentrations have been increasing, with important consequences on the biogeochemical cycle in agroecosystems. However, little is known about the interactive effect of elevated CO2 and O3 on soil nitrogen cycling processes mediated by soil microbes.

Methods

We conducted open-top chamber facilities to assess the impacts of short-term elevated CO2 and O3 on soil nitrification and denitrification rates, and the abundances of soil N cycling-related genes for two rice cultivars (Nanjing 5055 vs. Wuyujing 3) in paddy soil.

Results

Elevated CO2 potentially increased the abundance of nitrification-related genes (AOA amoA + 40.9%, AOB amoA + 23.4%, nxrB + 8.6%). Elevated O3 potentially reduced the abundances of AOA and AOB amoA, nxrA, and nxrB by 3.1–23.8%. Combined treatment showed detrimental effects on the abundances of AOA and AOB amoA, and nxrA by 17.6–36.0%, indicating that short-term elevated O3 exerted stronger effects on soil nitrification than CO2. Similarly, both individual and combined treatments decreased the abundance of comammox amoA. Additionally, the individual and combined treatments stimulated the abundance of denitrification-related genes by 4.2–11.9%, except narG. Accordingly, the denitrification rates were significantly increased by 77.2–89.1% under all treatments, particularly for Nanjing 5055. Furthermore, the abundance of nifH mediating N fixation was reduced by elevated CO2 and combined treatments.

Conclusions

Elevated CO2 and O3 may promote soil N losses by increasing the abundances of denitrification-related genes, restraining N fixation-related genes, and potentially threatening food production, highlighting the detrimental impacts of ongoing elevated CO2 and O3 on soil N retention capacity in the future.

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Acknowledgments

G.Z. is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42077209). J.W. is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32271679, 31901165) and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (No. 2020 J01186). X.S. is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32071631, 41907022) and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (No. 2020 J01138).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, China

    Jianqing Wang, Liyan Wang, Yunyan Tan & Xiuzhen Shi

  2. Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Guoyou Zhang

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  1. Jianqing Wang
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Correspondence to Xiuzhen Shi or Guoyou Zhang.

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Wang, J., Wang, L., Tan, Y. et al. Short-term elevated O3 exerts stronger effects on soil nitrification than does CO2, but jointly promotes soil denitrification. Plant Soil 486, 551–560 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-05889-9

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