1. Different contributing processes in bacterial vs. fungal necromass affect soil carbon fractions during the plant residues transformation
- Author
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Zhijing Xue, Tingting Qu, Xiaoyun Li, Qin Chen, Zhengchao Zhou, Baorong Wang, and XiZhi Lv
- Abstract
Aims Recent research has suggested that microbial necromass has a disproportionate influence on soil organic C accumulation. But few field studies have followed the bacterial and fungal necromass vacations during plant residue decomposition. Methods We investigated in a 512-days culture experiment with a perennial C3 herb (St.B, S. bungeana) to trace the formations of muramic acid (MurA) vs. Glucosamine (GluN), and investigate the relationships between MurA, GluN and soil C fractions. Results The results showed that the bacteria community dominates the decomposition process due to soil pH (>7) and microbial metabolic C-, P-limitations. The dynamics of MurA changed from fluctuating variations to a significant increase. Bacterial necromass has been in a balance of accumulation and decomposition at early and middle periods. The entombing effect in the later stage resulted in bacterial necromass accumulation. While in the case of microbial metabolism limitation, GluN will lose its physicochemical protection and be degraded. Microorganisms regulate the turnover of POC, MAOC and MBC by microbial biomass and necromass. The utilization of soil C fractions is the direct cause of SOC decline, while microbial necromass only plays an indirect role. The priming effecting caused by one-time input of high C/N ratio plant residues leads to the absence of SOC accumulation in the short term. Conclusions With the synergistic effect of soil C fractions, the production of microbial biomass and the degradation of cellular residues maintain microbial stoichiometric homeostasis. In addition to soil pH, microbial biomass stoichiometry co-determines microbial necromass formation.
- Published
- 2023
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