Controls on microbially regulated soil organic carbon decomposition at the regional scale

Abstract

Even small changes in microbial decomposition rates of soil organic carbon (SOC) at the regional scale have the potential to modify land-atmospheric feedbacks at the global scale. Limited understanding of the regulation of microbial driven processes has led to major uncertainty in global SOC estimates. Therefore, to better understand the large scale processes controlling SOC dynamics, we examined the influence of SOC quantity, quality, and soil physical and biochemical properties on soil basal respiration and of the temperature sensitivities (Q10) of soil respiration and enzymes (β-glucosidase and xylanase) at two scales: landscape (two individual areas, each approximately 27 km2) and regional (pooled data of both areas). Soil samples (0–30 cm soil depth) originated from 41 agricultural sites distributed over two areas in southwest Germany differing in climatic and geological conditions. We used a two-step data analysis procedure; variable selection through random Forest regression, followed by shortlisting of significant explanatory variables using linear mixed-effect models. Microbial biomass regulated soil basal respiration at both scales, whereas soil C:N ratio played an important role only at the regional scale based on mixed-effect models. Soil texture significantly explained temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil respiration at both scales. Different SOC quality fractions characterized by midDRIFTS played a minor role, whereas extractable organic C related negatively to the respiration Q10. Soil properties controlling soil enzymes (Q10) were scale-specific. We found pH to be the main factor affecting β-glucosidase Q10 at the landscape scale. We argue that scale-specificity of variables may depend on homogeneity of study areas and should be considered when exploring SOC dynamics. Our study identified direct and indirect controlling factors affecting soil basal respiration and its temperature sensitivity, providing vital information for SOC dynamics at large scales.