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The responses of moss-associated nitrogen fixation and belowground microbial community to chronic Mo and P supplements in subarctic dry heaths

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Abstract

Aims

Although nitrogen (N) fixation by moss-associated bacteria is the main source of new N in N-limited ecosystems like arctic tundra, we do not know which nutrient, molybdenum (Mo) or phosphorus (P), is rate-limiting for sustaining this process in the long-term. Further, how moss-associated N2 fixation impacts the belowground microbial regulation of decomposition remains unresolved.

Methods

Moss-associated N2 fixation and soil microbial process rates, abundance and community structure were assessed in long-term P and Mo field additions in the Subarctic during three years.

Results

We found tendencies for stimulation of moss-associated N2 fixation by Mo in the short term, by P in the long-term, and tendencies for a stimulation of soil microbial activity by P. However, large variation in microbial activity within and below the moss exceeded any systematic variation induced by the field treatments. Our findings suggest that soil microbial activity is not limited by N at our site, and that Mo and P only occasionally limit N2 fixation during a growing season.

Conclusions

Since increasing CO2 concentrations can induce nutrient limitation, the here reported transient limitation can easily shift into a chronic one with significant implications for ecosystem productivity and biogeochemistry.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. H. Wahlgren and G. Sylvester for assistance with laboratory analyses. Abisko Scientific Research Station kindly provided logistic support. Funding was provided by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (IRFD) “Research Project 1” (Grant ID: DFF—6108-00089), by the IRFD Sapere Aude Grant (Grant id: 7027-00011B), and by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW 2017.0171).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Section, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Kathrin Rousk

  2. Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Kathrin Rousk

  3. MEMEG – Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 22362, Lund, Sweden

    Johannes Rousk

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  1. Kathrin Rousk
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Contributions

KR designed the field study. KR and JR conducted the field additions and field sampling. KR (moss related analyses) and JR (soil related analyses) performed the laboratory assays and analysed the data. KR and JR wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kathrin Rousk.

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Rousk, K., Rousk, J. The responses of moss-associated nitrogen fixation and belowground microbial community to chronic Mo and P supplements in subarctic dry heaths. Plant Soil 451, 261–276 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04492-6

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