Abstract
It remains uncertain about the pathway by which atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition mediates soil carbon (C) source-sink process. This study was initiated to identify the contribution of soil enzymatic activities and nutrient availabilities to C release process (respiration and mineralization), accumulation, and allocation under the N deposition.We established four treatments including control (0 added), low (20 kg N ha–1 yr–1), medium (40 kg N ha–1 yr–1), and high (60 kg N ha–1 yr–1) levels of N additions in meadow wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.We found that the size of soil respiration, C mineralization, and enzymatic activities increased through low-level N additions (17.1–62.5%) and decreased through high-level additions (21.2–52.9%) in contrast to the control. The concentration of recalcitrant organic C (ROC) declined in low-level additions (19.3%) but increased in medium (47.1%) and high (88.6%) additions. Microbial biomass C (MBC) level increased under low (88.1%) and medium (28.6%) additions, while it decreased under high additions (31%). Furthermore, the ratios of LOC/ROC (226.2%) and MBC/ROC (136.4%) increased in low level additions, whereas they decreased in high additions (37.2–63.6%). The contribution of enzymatic activities (59.7–71.2%) to C release and allocation was higher than that of C and N pools (4.7–16.6%).We can conclude that low rather than high level N additions accelerate C release process and reduce recalcitrant C allocation via stirring soil enzymatic activities. The findings are helpful to understand the mechanism of N deposition mediating C source-sink process in alpine meadows.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (42067011), Fundamental Research of Yunnan Province (202001AT070113), Young and Middle-aged Academic Technology Leader Reserve Talent Project of Yunnan Province (202205AC160047), Fundamental Research of Yunnan Province (2013-FB053).
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Lu, M., Wang, M., Sun, Y. et al. Low Rather Than High Level Nitrogen Additions Accelerate Carbon Release Process and Inhibit Recalcitrant Carbon Allocation via Stirring Soil Enzymatic Activities in Plateau Meadows. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-024-01734-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-024-01734-9