Skip to main content
Log in

Responses of Soil Active Organic Carbon Fractions and Enzyme Activities to Freeze-thaw Cycles in Wetlands

  • Wetland Soils
  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to clarify the response of soil active organic carbon fractions and enzyme activities in different type of wetlands to freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs), a FTCs simulation experiment of different type wetland soils were carried out. In the study, samples were collected from three soil layers of (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) undisturbed Deyeuxia purpurea wetland (UDPW), disturbed Deyeuxia purpurea wetland (DDPW) and rice paddy field (RP), and then exposed to FTCs at large (-10 to 10℃) or small (-5 to 5℃) amplitudes, respectively. The results showed that FTCs increased the soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in the three soil layers of UDPW, DDPW and RP by approximately 4.7–45.1%, 3.8–41.9% and 1.1–32.7% at large amplitude, and 8.7–48.1%, 5.2–43.4% and 2.2–31.8% at small amplitude. The interaction between small amplitude and higher water content resulted in the maximum increment of DOC concentration. However, FTCs decreased microbial biomass carbon (MBC) concentration and cellulase, invertase and catalase activities, and particularly the interaction between the large amplitude and higher water content exerted the most significant effect. As the increase of freeze-thaw frequency, DOC concentrations increased firstly and then decreased, while MBC concentrations and the three enzyme activities were opposite to DOC. The average change in DOC and MBC concentrations and enzyme activities due to the effects of FTCs varied from soil type, and the variation of DOC, MBC and enzyme activities across different type wetlands were as follows: UDPW > DDPW > RP. As the soil depth increased, the FTCs effect gradually weakened, which was manifested as 0–10 cm > 10–20 cm > 20–30 cm. For the three wetland soils, the significant correlations between active organic carbon fractions and enzyme activities indicate that the increase in DOC due to FTCs plays an important role on soil microbes and enzyme activities. However, the correlation was weak in RP soil, which might be related to strong disturbance of human.

摘要

为了明确不同类型湿地土壤活性有机碳和土壤酶活性对冻融循环的响应, 本研究选取三江平原未受干扰的小叶章湿地, 受到干扰的小叶章湿地和水稻田 0–10, 10–20 和 20–30 cm 三个层的土壤进行冻融模拟实验, 实验分别设置大 (-10–10℃) 和小 (-5–5℃) 两个冻融幅度。实验结果显示, 冻融循环增加了未受干扰的小叶章湿地、受到干扰的小叶章湿地和水稻田三个土层的土壤可溶性有机碳浓度, 在大幅度冻融条件下, 可溶性有机碳浓度分别增加了4.7–45.1%, 3.8–41.9% 和 1.1–32.7%, 小幅度冻融条件下分别增加了8.7–48.1%,5.2–43.4% 和 2.2–31.8%。其中, 小振幅冻融循环和高含水量的交互作用对可溶性有机碳浓度影响最大。随着土壤活动层深度的增加, 冻融作用对三种土壤DOC浓度的影响均减弱。冻融循环却降低了微生物量碳浓度和纤维素酶、蔗糖酶和过氧化氢酶活性, 其中大幅度冻融和高含水量交互作用影响最为显著。随着冻融频率的增加, 可溶性有机碳浓度在初期增加后下降, 而微生物量碳浓度和三种酶活性却与可溶性有机碳浓度相反。冻融循环引起的土壤可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳浓度和酶活性的平均变化量在不同类型的湿地上存在差, 可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳和酶活性的变化: 未受干扰小叶章湿地 > 受干扰小叶章湿地 > 水稻田。随着土壤深度的增, 冻融循环效应逐渐减弱。总体上表现为; 0–10 cm > 10–20 cm > 20–30 cm。在3种湿地土壤, 活性有机碳组分与酶活性之间的显著相关性表明, 冻融循环增加的可溶性有机碳对土壤微生物和酶活性起着重要作用。而水稻田土壤的相关性较弱, 可能与人为干扰有关。

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

References

  • Barbhuiya AR, Arunachalam A, Pandey HN, Arunachalam K, Khan ML, Nath PC (2004) Dynamics of soil microbial biomass C, N and P in disturbed and undisturbed stands of a tropical wet-evergreen forest. Eur J Soil Biol 40:113–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaer GM, Myrold DD, Bottomley PJ (2009) A soil quality index based on the equilibrium between soil organic matter and biochemical properties of undisturbed coniferous forest soils of the Pacific Northwest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41:822–830

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeLuca TH, Keeney DR, McCarty GW (1992) Effect of freezing-thawing events on mineralization of soil nitrogen. Biology and Fertility of Soils 14:116–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dick RP (1994) Soil enzyme activities as indicators of soil quality. In: Doran JW, Coleman DC, Bezdicek DF, Stewart BA (eds) Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment. Madison, WI, pp107–124

  • Edwards KA, McCulloch J, Kershaw GP, Jefferies RL (2006) Soil microbial and nutrient dynamics in a wet Arctic sedge meadow in late winter and early spring. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38:2843–2851

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng XJ, Nielsen LL, Simpson MJ (2007) Responses of soil organic matter and microorganisms to freeze–thaw cycles. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 39:2027–2037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fierer N, Strickland MS, Liptzin D, Bradford MA, Cleveland CC (2009) Global patterns in belowground communities. Ecological Letters 12:1238–1249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu J, Liu J, Wang XW, Zhang MD, Chen WC, Chen B (2020) Ecological risk assessment of wetland vegetation under projected climate scenarios in the Sanjiang Plain, China. Journal of Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ge GF, Li ZJ, Fan FL, Chu GX, Hou ZN, Liang YC (2010) Soil biological activity and their seasonal variations in response to long-term application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Plant Soil 326:31–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grandy AS, Neff JC (2008) Molecular C dynamics downstream: the biochemical decomposition sequence and its impact on soil organic matter structure and function. Science of the Total Environment 404:297–307

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grogan P, Michelsen A, Ambus P, Jonasson S (2004) Freeze–thaw regime effects on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in sub-arctic heath tundra mesocosms. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36:641–654

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan SY (1986) Soil enzymology and research method. Agricultural Press, 274–323. (In Chinese)

  • Hentschel K, Borken W, Matzner E (2008) Repeated freeze-thaw events affect leaching losses of nitrogen and dissolved organic matter in a forest soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 171:699–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrmann A, Witter E (2002) Sources of C and N contributing to the flush in mineralization upon freeze-thaw cycles in soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 34:1495–1505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones DL, Willett VB (2006) Experimental evaluation of methods to quantify dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38:991–999

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koponen HT, Jaakkola T, Keinänen-Toivola MM, Kaipainen S, Tuomainen J, Servomaa K, Martikainen PJ (2006) Microbial communities, biomass, and activities in soils as affected by freeze thaw cycles. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38:1861–1871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen KS, Jonasson S, Michelsen A (2002) Repeated freeze-thaw cycles and their effects on biological processes in two arctic ecosystem types. Appl Soil Ecol 21:187–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang B, Yang XY, He XH, Zhou JB (2011) Effects of 17-year fertilization on soil microbial biomass C and N and soluble organic C and N in loessial soil during maize growth. Biology and Fertility of Soils 47:121–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Männistö MK, Tiirola M, Häggblom MM (2009) Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on bacterial communities of arctic tundra soil. Microb Ecol 58:621–631

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mailapalli DR, Wallender WW, Burger M, Horwath WR (2010) Effects of field length and management practices on dissolved organic carbon export in furrow irrigation. Agriculture Water Management 98:29–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner B, Kalbitz K (2003) Controls of bioavailability and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter in soils. Geoderma 113:211–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marx MC, Wood M, Jarvis SC (2001) A microplate flurimetric assay for the study of enzyme diversity in soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 33:1633–1640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews E, Fung I (1987) Methane emissions from natural wetland lands: global distribution, area and environmental characteristics of sources. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 1:61–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matzner E, Borken W (2008) Do freeze-thaw events enhance C and N losses from soils of different ecosystems? A review. European Journal of Soil Science 59:274–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meisner A, Snoek BL, Nesme J, Dent E, Jacquiod S, Classen AT, Priemé (2021) Soil microbial legacies differ following drying-rewetting and freezing-thawing cycles. The ISME Journal 15:1207–1221

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mikan CJ, Schimel JP, Doyle AP (2002) Temperature controls of microbial respiration in arctic tundra soils above and below freezing. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 34:1785–1795

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miura M, Jones TG, Hill PW, Jones DL (2019) Freeze-thaw and dry-wet events reduce microbial extracellular enzyme activity, but not organic matter turnover in an agricultural grassland soil. Appl Soil Ecol 144:196–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mostaghimi S, Young RA, Wilts AR, Kenier AL (1988) Effects of frost action on soil aggregate sTableility. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 31:435–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oztas T, Fayetorbay F (2002) Effect of freezing and thawing processes on soil aggregate sTableility. Catena 52:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poelson DS, Prookes PC, Christensen BT (1987) Measurement of soil microbial biomass provides an early indication of changes in total organic matter due to straw incorporation. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 19:159–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puri G, Ashman MR (1998) Relationship between soil microbial biomass and gross N mineralisation. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 30:251–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schimel JP, Bilbrough C, Welker JM (2004) Increased snow depth affects microbial activity and nitrogen mineralization in two Arctic tundra communities. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36:217–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schimel JP, Clein JS (1996) Microbial response to freeze-thaw cycles in tundra and taiga soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28:1061–1066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma S, Szele Z, Schilling R, Munch JC, Schloter M (2006) Influence of freeze–thaw stress on the structure and function of microbial communities and denitrifying populations in soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:2148–2154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Skogland T, Lomeland S, Goksøyr J (1988) Respiratory burst after freezing and thawing of soil: experiments with soil bacteria. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 20:851–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song KS, Wang ZM, Du J, Liu L, Zeng L, Ren CY (2014) Wetland degradation: its driving forces and environmental impacts in the Sanjiang Plain, China. Environ Manage 54:255–271

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Song YY, Song CC, Yang GS, Miao YQ, Wang JY, Guo YD (2012) Changes in labile organic carbon fractions and soil enzyme activities after marshland reclamation and restoration in the Sanjiang Plain in Northeast China. Environ Manage 50:418–426

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen PO, Finzi AC, Giasson MA, Reinmann AB, Demott RS, Templer PH (2018) Winter soil freeze-thaw cycles lead to reductions in soil microbial biomass and activity not compensated for by soil warming. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 116:39–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sparling GP (1992) Ratio of microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon as a sensitive indicator of changes in soil organic matter. Australia Journal of Soil Research 30:195–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staricka JA, Benoit GR (1995) Freeze-drying effect on wet and dry soil aggregate sTableility. Soil Science Society of America 599:218–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan B, Wu FZ, Yang WQ, He XH (2014) Snow removal alters soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity in a Tibetan alpine forest. Appl Soil Ecol 76:34–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tierney GL, Fahey TJ, Groffman PM, Hardy JP, Fitzhugh RD, Driscoll CT (2001) Soil freezing alters fine root dynamics in a northern hardwood forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 56:175–190

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vallejo VE, Roldan F, Dick RP (2010) Soil enzymatic activities and microbial biomass in an integrated agro forestry chronosequence compared to monoculture and a native forest of Colombia. Biology and Fertility of Soils 46:577–587

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wan ZM, Song CC, Guo YD, Wang L, Huang JY (2008) Effects of water gradients on soil enzyme activity and active organic carbon composition under Carex lasiocarpa marsh. Acta Ecol Sin 28:5980–5986

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Han XZ, Li LH, Zhang KQ (2009) The effect of freezing and thawing processes on black soil aggregateSTableility.Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology31:915–919 (In Chinese)

  • Wang FL, Bettany JR (1993) Influence of freezing-thawing and flooding on the loss of soluble organic carbon and carbon dioxide from soil. Journal of Environmental Quality 22:709–714

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JY, Song CC, Hou AX, Miao YQ, Yang GS, Zhang J (2014) Effects of freezing–thawing cycle on peatland active organic carbon fractions and enzyme activities in the Da Xing’anling Mountains, Northeast China. Environmental Earth Sciences 72:1853–1860

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang ZM, Song KS, Ma WH, Ren CY, Zhang B, Liu DW, Chen JM, Song CC (2011) Loss and fragmentation of marshes in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, 1954–2005. Wetlands 31:945–954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang WQ, Wang KY (2002) Advances on soil enzymology. Chinese Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology 8:564–570

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao XH, Min H, LÜ ZH, Yuan HP (2006) Influence of acetamiprid on soilenzymatic activities and respiration. European Journal of Soil Biology 42:120–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yergeau W, Kowalchuk GA (2008) Responses of Antarctic soil microbial communities and associated functions to temperature and freezing-thawing cycle frequency. Environment Microbiology 10:2223–2235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yi Y, Kimball JS, Rawlins MA, Moghaddam M, Euskirchen ES (2015) The role of snow cover affecting boreal-arctic soil freeze-thaw and carbon dynamics. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 12:5811–5829

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaccone R, Boldrin A, Caruso G, Ferla RL (2012) Enzymatic activities and prokaryotic abundance in relation to organic matter along a west–east mediterranean transect (TRANSMED Cruise). Microb Ecol 64:54–66

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JB, Song CC, Wang SM (2007) Dynamics of soil organic carbon and its fractions after abandonment of cultivated wetlands in Northeast China. Soil and Tillage Research 96:350–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZY (2000) Development and utilization of peat resources. Chinese Jilin Science and Technology Press, Changchun, pp 191–202 ((in Chinese))

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou LK (1987) Soil enzymology. Science Press, 266–270 (In Chinese)

Download references

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge “National Natural Science Foundation of China” (No. 31670489); “Doctoral Fund project of Jiamusi University” (No. JMSUBZ2020-12) for financial support.

Funding

This work was supported by [National Natural Science Foundation of China] (Grant numbers. No. 31670489); and [Doctoral Fund project of Jiamusi University] (Grant numbers No. JMSUBZ2020-12).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Jinqiu Guan, Fu Li and Hongwei Ni developed the idea of the study, participated in its design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript. Chunxiang Song and Yude Wu contributed to the acquisition and interpretation of data. Xingtian Qi and Rongjun Qu provided critical review and substantially revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Fu Li or Hongwei Ni.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guan, J., Song, C., Wu, Y. et al. Responses of Soil Active Organic Carbon Fractions and Enzyme Activities to Freeze-thaw Cycles in Wetlands. Wetlands 42, 36 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-022-01553-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-022-01553-7

Keywords

Navigation