Dynamics of nutrient concentration and microbial community composition during fine root decomposition in subtropical Mytilaria laosensis and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations.

Abstract

We conducted a 12-month fine root decomposition experiment under 19-year-old Mytilaria laosensis and Cunninghamia lanceolate plantations to explore the dynamics of nutrient concentration and microbial community composition. The aim of this study was to provide insights into nutrient cycling under plantations with different tree species. Our results showed that the initial concentrations of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were significantly higher in the fine root of M. laosensis than those in C. lanceolata, which significantly decreased with decomposition. Nitrogen (N) concentration in fine roots of both species increased with decay time. The variation of N concentration in fine root of C. lanceolata lagged behind that in M. laosensis. During the decomposition, magnesium (Mg) concentration in fine root of C. lanceolata showed no significant changes, but that of M. laosensis decreased at the initial decay stage and increased thereafter and was significantly lower than that of C. lanceolata at the 8th month. The ratio of fungi to bacteria (F/B) of both species decreased at the initial stage and then increased, with significantly higher F/B in fine root of M. laosensis than that of C. lanceolate after one-year decay. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that changes in N and K concentrations and C/N ratio explained 37.2%, 14.5% and 14.8% of the variations in microbial community composition of C. lanceolata fine root respectively. However, during the decay of M. laosensis fine root, concentrations of Mg and K were key factors, accounting for 35.9% and 17.6% of the variations in microbial community composition, respectively. We concluded that other nutrients beyond N, such as Mg, might also be an important factor affecting root decomposition in different tree species.