Moso bamboo expansion decreased soil heterotrophic respiration but increased arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelial respiration in a subtropical broadleaved forest

Moso bamboo(Phyllostachys Pubescens)expansion into adjacent forests has been widely reported to affect plant diversity and its association with mycorrhizal fungi in subtropical China,which will likely have significant impacts on soil respiration.However,there is still limited information on how Moso bamboo expansion changes soil respiration components and their linkage with microbial community composition and activity.Based on a mesh exclusion method,soil respirations derived from roots,arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)mycelium,and free-living microbes were investigated in a pure Moso bamboo forest(expanded),an adjacent broadleaved forest(nonexpanded),and a mixed bamboo-broadleaved forest(expanding).Our results showed that bamboo expansion decreased the cumulative CO_(2)effluxes from total soil respiration,root respiration and soil heterotrophic respiration(by 19.01%,30.34%,and 29.92%on average),whereas increased those from AM mycelium(by 78.67%in comparison with the broadleaved forests).Bamboo expansion significantly decreased soil organic carbon(C)content,bacterial and fungal abundances,and enzyme activities involved in C,N and P cycling whereas enhanced the interactive relationships among bacterial communities.In contrast,the ingrowth of AM mycelium increased the activities ofβ-glucosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and decreased the interactive relationships among bacterial communities.Changes in soil heterotrophic respiration and AM mycelium respiration had positive correlations with soil enzyme activities and fungal abundances.In summary,our findings suggest that bamboo expansion decreased soil heterotrophic respiration by decreasing soil microbial activity but increased the contribution of AM mycelial respiration to soil C efflux,which may potentially increase soil C loss from AM mycelial pathway.

Effects of Different Chinese Hickory Husk Returning Modes on Soil Nutrition and Microbial Community in Acid Forest Soil

Chinese hickory(Carya cathayensis Sarg.)is an important economic forest in Southeastern China.A large amount of hickory husk waste is generated every year but with a low proportion of returning.Meanwhile,intensive management has resulted in soil degradation of Chinese hickory plantations.This study aims to investigate the effects of three Chinese hickory husk returning modes on soil amendment,including soil acidity,soil nutrition,and microbial community.The field experiment carried out four treatments:control(CK),hickory husk mulching(HM),hickory husk biochar(BC),and hickory husk organic fertilizer(OF).The phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA)biomarker method was employed to determine the soil microbial community.After one year of treatment,the results showed that:(i)HM and BC significantly increased soil pH by 0.33 and 1.71 units,respectively;(ii)HM,BC and OF treatments significantly increased the soil organic carbon,alkaline nitrogen,available phosphorous,and available potassium.The OF treatment demonstrated the most significant improvement in the soil nutrient;(iii)The soil microbial biomass significantly increased in the HM,BC and OF treatments,and all microbial groups showed an increasing trend.HM treatment increased the fungal/bacterial ratio(F/B).The OF treatment significantly decreased the Shannon-Wiener diversity(H’)and evenness index(J)of the microbial community(P<0.05).Considering the treatments effects,costs,and ease of operation,our recommended returning modes of Chinese hickory husk are mulching and organic fertilizer produced by composting with manure.

Land Consolidation with Seedling Cultivation Could Decrease Soil Microbial PLFA Diversity

The impact of land consolidation on the soil microbial PLFA diversity is of great importance for understanding the effective arable land usage,improving agricultural ecological conditions and environment.In this study,we collected the soil samples(0–20 cm)in experimental plots with 0(Z0),1(Z1a)and 4(Z4a)years of land consolidation in the forest station of Ningbo City,Zhejiang Province,southeastern China.The results were analyzed using ANOVA for randomized block design.Compared with control(Z0),the soil pH value under Z1a treatment increased by 14.6%,soil organic carbon(SOC)content decreased by 65.4%,so did the PLFA contents and relative abundance of all the microbial PLFA diversity(P<0.05),respectively.Meanwhile,for the Z1a treatment,the ratio of fungi to bacteria(F/B)significantly decreased by 35.9%(P<0.05),while the ratio of Gram-positive bacteria to Gram-negative bacteria(G+/G−)signific antly increased by 56.1%.This was strongly related to the increased soil pH values and the decrease of SOC.The Shannon index(H)and evenness index(E)of soil microbial PLFA diversity were significantly decreased after land consolidation(P<0.05).Compared to the Z1 treatment,the microbial PLFA diversity was improved slightly.Therefore,the land consolidation could significantly affect the composition of soil microbial PLFA diversity,and decrease the soil ecosystem stability.

Intensive management enhances mycorrhizal respiration but decreases free-living microbial respiration by affecting microbial abundance and community structure in Moso bamboo forest soils

Intensive management is known to markedly alter soil carbon(C)storage and turnover in Moso bamboo forests compared with extensive management.However,the effects of intensive management on soil respiration(RS)components remain unclear.This study aimed to evaluate the changes in different RScomponents(root,mycorrhizal,and free-living microorganism respiration)in Moso bamboo forests under extensive and intensive management practices.A1-year in-situ microcosm experiment was conducted to quantify the RScomponents in Moso bamboo forests under the two management practices using mesh screens of varying sizes.The results showed that the total RSand its components exhibited similar seasonal variability between the two management practices.Compared with extensive management,intensive management significantly increased cumulative respiration from mycorrhizal fungi by 36.73%,while decreased cumulative respiration from free-living soil microorganisms by 8.97%.Moreover,the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)increased by 43.38%,but bacterial and fungal abundances decreased by 21.65%and 33.30%,respectively,under intensive management.Both management practices significantly changed the bacterial community composition,which could be mainly explained by soil pH and available potassium.Mycorrhizal fungi and intensive management affected the interrelationships between bacterial members.Structural equation modeling indicated that intensive management changed the cumulative RSby elevating AMF abundance and lowering bacterial abundance.We concluded that intensive management reduced the microbial respiration-derived C loss,but increased mycorrhizal respiration-derived C loss.