Effects of Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers on Soil CO2 Efflux and Labile Organic Carbon Pools in an Intensively Managed Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) Plantation in Subtropical China

Abstract

ABSTRACTImpact of combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizers on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is poorly understood. We investigated the effects of inorganic fertilizer (IF), organic fertilizer (OF), and a mixture of organic and inorganic fertilizers (OIF) applications on the dynamics of soil CO2 efflux in intensively managed Moso bamboo plantations. Soil CO2 efflux and concentrations of water soluble organic C (WSOC) and microbial biomass C (MBC) in the IF treatment were higher than those in the control but lower than those in the OF and OIF treatments. Both OF and OIF treatments increased the SOC stock. Strong exponential relationships (p < 0.01) between soil temperature and CO2 efflux were observed in all treatments. Soil CO2 efflux in all four treatments was correlated with WSOC (p < 0.05) but not with MBC. We concluded the combined approach can possibly contribute to increasing the level of SOC stock in intensively managed plantations.