SOIL MICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND BIOMASS C AND N CONTENT IN THREE TYPICAL ECOSYSTEMS IN QI LIAN MOUNTAINS, CHINA

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.02.026

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our objectives were to measure the soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB C), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMB N) content and soil microbial activity, and determine the relationship between these parameters and other soil properties (including organic carbon, total nitrogen content and water content) in montane forest (dominated by Picea crassifolia), steppe and alpine meadow ecosystems in Qi Lian Mountains, China.
Methods We measured SMB C and SMB N content using fumigation-incubation method and soil microbial activity using substrate-induced respiration.
Important findings The SMB C content under forest was 60% and 120% higher than under steppe and alpine meadow, respectively, and it was 40% higher under steppe than alpine meadow. The SMB N content was 64% and 111% higher in 0-5 cm soil depth under forest than alpine meadow and steppe, respectively, and it was 29% higher under alpine meadow than steppe. Also, it was 7% and 191% higher in 5-15 cm soil depth under forest than steppe and alpine meadow, respectively, and it was 171% higher under steppe than alpine meadow (p<0.05). The ratio SMB C (SMB C-to-SOC (Soil organic carbon), 0.4%-2.8%) was 32% higher under forest and steppe than alpine meadow, and the ratio of SMB N (SMB N-to-total soil N, 0.5%-2.8%) in 0-5 and 5-15 cm soil depths was 150% higher under forest and steppe than alpine meadow (p<0.05). Soil microbial activity in 0-5 or 5-15 cm soil depth was 26% higher under forest or alpine meadow than steppe, and in 15-35 cm soil depth it was 28% higher under forest than steppe and alpine meadow (p<0.05). The SMB C and SMB N content was positively correlated with SOC content, and the SMB N content or its ratio was also positively correlated with the SMB C content and its ratio (r²>0.30, p<0.000 1). The SMB N content, SMB C ratio, SMB N ratio and microbial activity were significantly negatively correlated with soil pH. The SMB C content, SMB N content and their ratio and microbial activity were positively correlated with soil water content.

Key words: Qi Lian Mountains, soil microbial activity, soil microbial biomass C and N, soil organic carbon, total soil N

WU Jian-Guo, AI Li. SOIL MICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND BIOMASS C AND N CONTENT IN THREE TYPICAL ECOSYSTEMS IN QI LIAN MOUNTAINS, CHINA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2008, 32(2): 465-476.

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https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2008/V32/I2/465

Figures/Tables 8

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植被类型 Vegetation type	土壤类型 Soil type	土层深度 Soil depth (cm)	pH	CaCO₃ (%)	全磷 Total P (%)	全钾 Total K (%)	土壤湿度 Soil water content (%)
高寒草甸 Alpine meadows	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil	0~5	6.3	0.2	0.11	2.2	24
		5~15	6.5	0.1	0.10	2.4	26
		15~35	6.6	0.1	0.12	2.6	28
山地森林 Dragon spruce forest	灰色森林土 Mountain gray cinnamon soil	0~5	7.0	0.5	0.20	2.6	23
		5~15	7.1	0.8	0.10	3.0	24
		15~35	7.3	0.7	0.07	2.5	23
干草原 Steppe	山地栗钙土 Mountain kastanozem	0~5	8.1	7.3	0.14	2.5	22
		5~15	8.3	8.2	0.12	2.4	23
		15~35	8.4	8.3	0.11	2.5	21

植被类型 Vegetation type	土壤类型 Soil type	土层深度 Soil depth (cm)	pH	CaCO₃ (%)	全磷 Total P (%)	全钾 Total K (%)	土壤湿度 Soil water content (%)
高寒草甸 Alpine meadows	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil	0~5	6.3	0.2	0.11	2.2	24
		5~15	6.5	0.1	0.10	2.4	26
		15~35	6.6	0.1	0.12	2.6	28
山地森林 Dragon spruce forest	灰色森林土 Mountain gray cinnamon soil	0~5	7.0	0.5	0.20	2.6	23
		5~15	7.1	0.8	0.10	3.0	24
		15~35	7.3	0.7	0.07	2.5	23
干草原 Steppe	山地栗钙土 Mountain kastanozem	0~5	8.1	7.3	0.14	2.5	22
		5~15	8.3	8.2	0.12	2.4	23
		15~35	8.4	8.3	0.11	2.5	21

植被类型 Vegetation type	土层深度 Soil depth (cm)	土壤有机碳含量 SOC content (g·kg^-1)	标准差 Standard deviation	土壤全氮含量 Total soil N content (g·kg^-1)	标准差 Standard deviation	土壤碳氮比 Soil C∶N	标准差 Standard deviation
干草原Steppe	0~5	27.35^a	5.32	2.31^a	0.40	11.81^a	0.73
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		101.26^b	5.41	4.26^b	0.11	23.76^b	1.11
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		70.44^c	6.23	5.07^c	0.35	13.92^c	1.26
干草原Steppe	5~15	23.73^a	2.13	2.27^a	0.11	10.45^a	1.14
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		91.09^b	6.51	3.35^b	0.18	27.20^b	2.05
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		55.90^c	5.57	4.21^c	0.37	13.25^c	0.44
干草原Steppe	15~35	23.51^a	1.51	2.41^a	0.21	9.79^a	0.77
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		81.48^b	5.40	2.67^a	0.33	30.78^b	3.84
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		47.70^c	2.14	3.86^b	0.07	12.35^c	0.42

植被类型 Vegetation type	土层深度 Soil depth (cm)	土壤有机碳含量 SOC content (g·kg^-1)	标准差 Standard deviation	土壤全氮含量 Total soil N content (g·kg^-1)	标准差 Standard deviation	土壤碳氮比 Soil C∶N	标准差 Standard deviation
干草原Steppe	0~5	27.35^a	5.32	2.31^a	0.40	11.81^a	0.73
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		101.26^b	5.41	4.26^b	0.11	23.76^b	1.11
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		70.44^c	6.23	5.07^c	0.35	13.92^c	1.26
干草原Steppe	5~15	23.73^a	2.13	2.27^a	0.11	10.45^a	1.14
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		91.09^b	6.51	3.35^b	0.18	27.20^b	2.05
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		55.90^c	5.57	4.21^c	0.37	13.25^c	0.44
干草原Steppe	15~35	23.51^a	1.51	2.41^a	0.21	9.79^a	0.77
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		81.48^b	5.40	2.67^a	0.33	30.78^b	3.84
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		47.70^c	2.14	3.86^b	0.07	12.35^c	0.42

植被类型 Vegetation type	土层深度 Soil depth (cm)	微生量生物量碳含量 SMBC content (mg·kg^-1)	标准差 Standard deviation	微生物生物量氮含量 SMBN content (mg·kg^-1)	标准差 Standard deviation	微生物生物量C∶N Ratio of SMBC and N content	标准差 Standard deviation
干草原Steppe	0~5	665.06^a	220.88	55.96^a	30.74	17.43^a	14.17
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		1206.89^b	306.21	118.13^b	13.80	10.45^a	3.63
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		428.15^c	231.21	72.00^c	37.68	7.09^b	3.49
干草原Steppe	5~15	652.84^a	158.74	60.48^a	24.53	12.92^a	6.07
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		1073.56^b	165.03	64.95^b	15.92	17.81^a	7.08
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		466.92^c	233.77	22.31^c	14.00	39.19^b	27.84
干草原Steppe	15~35	387.24^a	154.95	22.03^a	9.03	27.17^a	26.94
山地森林Dragon spruce forest		732.52^b	98.64	21.49^a	12.45	43.62^b	22.29
高寒草甸Alpine meadows		191.23^c	109.02	19.58^a	9.22	12.10^c	9.05