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Foliage application of nitrogen has less influence on soil microbial biomass and community composition than soil application of nitrogen

  • Soils, Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Many studies have shown the simulated effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on soil microbial community composition by adding N directly to the forest floor but have ignored the N retention process by the canopy. This study was conducted to compare the responses of soil microbial biomass and community composition between soil application of N (SAN) and foliage application of N (FAN).

Materials and methods

A pot experiment was designed with (1) two N application methods (SAN and FAN), (2) three N application levels (5.6, 15.6 and 20.6 g N m−2 year−1), and (3) two tree species (Schima superba Gardn. et Champ. and Pinus massoniana Lamb.) following a nested factorial design. Soil microbial biomass and community composition were determined using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) techniques after 1 and 1.5 years of treatments.

Results and discussion

Nitrogen addition increased (P < 0.05) soil NH4+-N content and soil NO3−-N content and decreased (P < 0.05) soil pH and soil microbial (bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete) biomass for both N application methods. Compared with the SAN treatment, the FAN treatment had higher (P < 0.05) pH and lower (P < 0.05) contents of soil NH4+-N and soil NO3−-N. Soil microbial biomass and community composition were significantly different between the different N addition levels under the SAN treatment, but they showed no significant difference (P < 0.05) between the different N addition levels under the FAN treatment. The soil microbial biomass in the S. superba soil was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the P. massoniana soil for the FAN treatment, with the opposite trend observed under the SAN treatment. Moreover, redundancy analysis showed that soil microorganisms were significantly correlated with soil pH, soil water content, NH4+-N, and NO3−-N.

Conclusions

The results showed that N addition affected soil properties, microbial biomass, and the composition of microbial communities; however, the FAN treatment had less influence on soil properties and soil microorganisms than did the SAN treatment over short time scales, and the extent of this effect was different between coniferous and broadleaf trees.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41473083 and 41173090).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China

    Xingran Huang, Yanfei Liu, Pingping Guo, Xiong Fang & Zhigang Yi

  2. Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Yiyong Li

  3. College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 130, Hefei, 230036, China

    Yiyong Li

  4. Minjiang River Estuary Wetland National Nature Reserve Administrative Office, Fuzhou, 350002, China

    Pingping Guo

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  1. Xingran Huang
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  2. Yanfei Liu
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  3. Yiyong Li
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  4. Pingping Guo
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  5. Xiong Fang
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  6. Zhigang Yi
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Correspondence to Xiong Fang or Zhigang Yi.

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Responsible editor: Jianming Xue

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Huang, X., Liu, Y., Li, Y. et al. Foliage application of nitrogen has less influence on soil microbial biomass and community composition than soil application of nitrogen. J Soils Sediments 19, 221–231 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-2027-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-2027-y

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