Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2022, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (8): 882-889.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2021.0324

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of tree species on soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen: a case study of common garden experiment

YUAN Chun-Yang, LI Ji-Hong, HAN Xin, HONG Zong-Wen, LIU Xuan, DU Ting, YOU Cheng-Ming, LI Han, TAN Bo, XU Zhen-Feng()   

  1. Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Rainy Area of West China Plantation Ecosystem Permanent Scientific Research Base, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
  • Received:2021-09-09 Accepted:2021-11-20 Online:2022-08-20 Published:2022-01-07
  • Contact: XU Zhen-Feng
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071745);National Natural Science Foundation of China(31870602);National Natural Science Foundation of China(31901295);Program of Sichuan Excellent Youth Sci-Tech Foundation(2020JDJQ0052);Program of Sichuan Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021YJ0340);National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFC0505003);Chinese Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020M673278)

Abstract:

Aims The aim of this study was to explore the effects of native tree species on soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) content in subtropical Sichuan.

Methods In the present study, Cinnamomum japonicum, C. longepaniculatum, C. austrosiense, Alnus cremastogyne, C. camphora, Toona ciliata and T. sinensis in a common garden were selected as the research objects; whereas the abandoned land as the control. The effects of tree species on soil MBC content and MBN at different depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) were analyzed using the method of common garden.

Important findings (1) Tree species significantly affected the content of soil MBC and MBN, as well as their ratio. Compared with the abandoned land, tree species exhibited positive or neutral effects and the effects of tree species were particularly obvious in C. japonicum.For example, the contents of MBC and MBN in 0-10 cm soil layer were 108.2% and 139.6% higher than those in the abandoned land, respectively. (2) The content of soil MBC and MBN in the both tree and abandoned land generally decreased with an increase with soil depth; however, the characteristics of MBC:MBN varied with tree species. (3) The content of soil MBC and MBN varied with tree species and soil layer. The variations caused by tree species were stronger than that caused by soil layer. Compared with other species, C. japonicum was more conducive to the growth and reproduction of soil microorganisms.

Key words: microbial biomass, common garden, effects of tree species, soil layer, subtropics