Mixture of N2-fixing tree species promotes organic phosphorus accumulation and transformation in topsoil aggregates in a degraded karst region of subtropical China

Abstract

Many studies have shown that introducing N2-fixing tree species into plantations can increase soil nitrogen (N) availability, via biological N2 fixation and faster N cycling. However, the effects and regulatory mechanisms of N2-fixing tree species in planting single species vs a combination of two species on phosphorus (P) accumulation and transformation in degraded karst soils remain poorly understood and appear site-dependent. This study aimed to determine the effects of introducing N2-fixing tree species (via single species vs a combination of two species) into a degraded karst region on organic phosphorus (Po) accumulation and transformation in topsoil aggregates. A comparative experiment was performed involving 8-year-old pure plantations of Dalbergia odorifera (PD) and Acrocarpus fraxinifolius (PA), a mixed plantation of Dalbergia odorifera and Acrocarpus fraxinifolius (MP), and an adjacent natural weed field (no trees, CK) in Mashan, Guangxi, subtropical China. The results showed that the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N), available phosphorus (AP) and C:N ratios in bulk soil and aggregates, increased significantly (P < 0.05) in MP compared to CK. The levels of soil microbial biomass N (MBN) and microbial biomass P (MBP) in bulk and aggregate soils increased significantly (P < 0.05), except for micro-aggregates (<0.25 mm) in MP samples. In contrast, no significant differences of MBN or MBP were found among PD, PA and CK plots in bulk and most aggregate soils. The phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) contents of all microbes, bacteria, fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and actinomycetes were also significantly higher (P < 0.05) in MP than those in CK and PD in bulk and most aggregate soils. Labile Po and highly resistant Po, and the activities of all tested N and P hydrolytic enzymes, improved in bulk soil and most aggregate size classes in all forest types, especially in MP samples. Finally, redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that Po fractions were primarily driven by alkaline phosphatase (ALP), MBN and AM. Our findings suggest that introducing N2-fixing tree species (especially MP) may be an effective method for increasing N availability and AM colonization of roots, and thereby promoting Po accumulation and transformation in degraded karst regions of southwest China.