Abstract
BackgroundSoil and microbial biomass stoichiometry plays an important role in understanding nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, studies on soil and microbial biomass stoichiometry in forests are rare. This study investigated the effect of tree species and topographic factors on the ecological stoichiometry of soil and soil microbial biomass.MethodsThree types of forest stands (Quercus variabilis, Larix principis-ruprechtii, and Cotinus coggygria Scop.) in the Beiru River basin of Funiu Mountain were analyzed in September 2018. Six slope positions (sunny bottom slope, sunny middle slope, sunny top slope, shady bottom slope, shady middle slope, and shady top slope) were selected, and the total number of sampling plots was 108. The stoichiometric indices of soil and microbial biomass were determined.ResultsAt a depth of 0–10 cm, the soil organic C contents in different stands followed the order of C. coggygria (27.7 ± 5.2 g/kg) > Q. variabilis (24.5 ± 4.9 g/kg) > L. principis-ruprechtii (20.8 ± 4.3 g/kg) (P < 0.05). The soil organic C contents at depths of 0–10 cm with different slope aspects and at different slope positions also showed significant differences (P < 0.05). The highest MBC content was observed at the slope bottom (1002 ± 157 mg/kg), whereas the lowest was observed at the slope top (641 ± 98.3 mg/kg). Redundancy analysis showed that the contribution of tree species to these differences was 57.1%, whereas that of topographical factors was 36.2%.ConclusionsTree species more significantly affected soil nutrients and microbial biomass C, N and P than did topographic factors.
Highlights
Soil microbes mineralize C, N and P and other nutrient elements in the soil through decomposition and release them into the soil, promoting the material cycle of the ecosystem [1, 2]
Effects of tree species and topography on the C, N and P contents At depths of 0–10 cm, the Soil organic carbon (SOC) contents of the soil of different tree species was in the order of C. coggygria
There was no significant difference between different slope positions for the sunny slope of Q. variabilis and the shady/sunny slope of C. coggygria Scop
Summary
Soil microbes mineralize C, N and P and other nutrient elements in the soil through decomposition and release them into the soil, promoting the material cycle of the ecosystem [1, 2]. Soil microbial community structure and functional characteristics influence the biogeochemical cycle process [3, 4]. Cleveland and Liptzin [6] integrated the soil microbial biomass data of the global terrestrial ecosystem and thought that the proportions of C, N and P in the soil microbes was similar to the “Redfield ratio”. The soil microbial biomass N:P can be used as a tool to assess nutrient limitation [7, 8]. Soil and microbial biomass stoichiometry plays an important role in understanding nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Studies on soil and microbial biomass stoichiometry in forests are rare. This study investigated the effect of tree species and topographic factors on the ecological stoichiometry of soil and soil microbial biomass
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