Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon and Nitrogen in Drawdown Area in the Three Gorges Reservoir

Abstract

Taking a typical drawdown area located in Wangjiagou of the Three Gorges Reservoir as the study object, four elevations 180,175,165 and 155 m were selected to explore the effect of water level change on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN). Wherein, 175,165 and 155 m elevations located in the fluctuating zone, manifested as short, medium and long-term flooding, respectively; 180 m was used as the control, located on the land and never flooded. Sampling depth in soil samples was 0-20 cm, collected once a week. The results indicated that, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents at 180 m had no obvious seasonal changes, while they showed remarkable seasonal trends at 175m, which in spring and summer were significantly higher than in autumn and winter; SMBC and SMBN contents and their allocation ratio at four elevations were similar and had significant seasonal fluctuation, which were highest in autumn and lowest in summer at each elevation, indicating that in drawdown area the microbial activity and turnover rate of soil organic carbon and nitrogen were limited by the high-temperature and low-humidity soil environment in summer. Data analysis showed that, compared with the 180 m elevation, contents of SOC, TN, SMBC and microbial quotient, SMBN and its allocation proportion showed varying degrees of increase, while contents of these indexes were significantly lower than control except SMBN and its allocation proportion, meaning that compared with 180 m short and medium-term flooding was conducive to improve soil carbon, nitrogen and their turnover rate and microbial biomass, however, contents of soil carbon and nitrogen and microbial biomass carbon were significantly restricted at 155 m as soil was subjected to flooding stress, meanwhile the turnover rate of SOC was reduced. Correlation analysis implied that SMBC and SMBN had very significant negative correlation with temperature at 5 cm soil depth and pH, meaning that the two environmental factors had a strong effect on soil microbial biomass.