Abstract
Background and aims
Soil extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) and extracellular enzymatic stoichiometry (EES) play an important role in soil nutrient cycling processes. However, the response of EEAs and EES to forest management practices remains unclear, which hinders our understanding of the mechanisms regulating nutrient cycling.
Methods
Soil microclimate, nutrients, microbial biomass, EEAs, and EES in Pinus massoniana plantations were investigated over 6 years after thinning (two levels: removal of 15% and 70% basal area) or understorey removal.
Results
(1) Compared to the controls, the activities of β-1.4-glucosidase (BG), β-1.4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and acid phosphatase (AP) were not significantly influenced by thinning or understorey removal during the first 3 years after treatment, in the 4th year, however, understorey removal significantly reduced AP, and heavily thinning significantly increased NAG. (2) Between year 4 and year 6 after treatment, thinning significantly decreased the ratio of ln(BG) to ln(NAG + LAP) but increased the ratio of ln(NAG + LAP) to ln(AP). (3) EEAs and EES were significantly regulated by soil temperature and dissolved carbon during the first 3 years after treatment, after which microorganisms and soil total nitrogen drove the EEAs and EES.
Conclusions
We found that thinning and understorey removal have similar effects on EEAs and EES. Our study suggests that nitrogen demand of soil microorganisms may change during the recovery of forests after thinning and understorey removal, which will further negatively affect EEAs and thus soil biogeochemical cycling.
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Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (32192434, 32101501) and the National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAFYBB2016SY015). The authors thank all those who provided helpful suggestions and critical comments on this manuscript. We also thank the National Forest Ecosystem Station of Three Gorges Reservoir in Zigui County for their support in our field work.
Funding
This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (32192434,32101501) and the National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAFYBB2016SY015).
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Lixiong Zeng, Wenfa Xiao, Changfu Liu and Lei Lei designed this research and revised the manuscript critically; Lei Lei, Zunji Jian, and Yafei Shen conducted field work and laboratory analysis; Lixiong Zeng, Changfu Liu, Lei Lei and Mai-He Li carried out the data analysis and drafted the manuscript. All the authors commented on the analysis and gave final approval for publication.
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Zeng, L., Xiao, W., Liu, C. et al. Effects of thinning and understorey removal on soil extracellular enzyme activity vary over time during forest recovery after treatment. Plant Soil 492, 457–469 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06187-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06187-0