Eff ects of stand condition and root density on fi ne-root dynamics across root functional groups in a subtropical montane forest

Fine roots play key roles in belowground C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.Based on their distinct functions,fi ne roots are either absorptive fi ne roots(AFRs)or transport fi ne roots(TFRs).However,the function-based fi ne root dynamics of trees and their responses to forest stand properties remain unclear.Here,we studied the dynamics of AFRs and TFRs and their responses to stand conditions and root density in a subtropical montane mixed forest based on a 2-a root window experiment.Mean(±SE)annual production,mortality,and turnover rate of AFRs were 7.87±0.17 m m^(−2)a^(−1),8.13±0.20 m m^(−2)a^(−1)and 2.96±0.24 a^(−1),respectively,compared with 7.09±0.17 m m^(−2)a^(−1),4.59±0.17 m m^(−2)a^(−1),and 2.01±0.22 a^(−1),respectively,for TFRs.The production and mortality of fi ne roots were signifi cantly higher in high root-density sites than in low-root density sites,whereas the turnover of fi ne roots was faster in the low root-density sites.Furthermore,root density had a larger positive eff ect than other environmental factors on TFR production but had no obvious impact on AFR production.Tree species diversity had an apparent positive eff ect on AFR production and was the crucial driver of AFR production,probably due to a complementary eff ect,but had no evident impact on TFR.Both tree density and tree species diversity were positively correlated with the mortality of AFRs and negatively related to the turnover of TFRs,suggesting that higher root density caused stronger competition for rooting space and that plants tend to reduce maintenance costs by decreasing TFR turnover.These fi ndings illustrated the importance of root functional groups in understanding root dynamics and their responses to changes in environmental conditions.

Nitrogen availability regulates deep soil priming effect by changing microbial metabolic efficiency in a subtropical forest

In terrestrial ecosystems,deep soils(below 30 cm)are major organic carbon(C)pools.The labile carbon input could alter soil organic carbon(SOC)mineralization,resulting in priming effect(PE),which could be modified by nitrogen(N)availability,however,the underlying mechanism is unclear for deep soils,which complicates the prediction of deep soil C cycling in response to N deposition.A series of N applications with ^(13)C labeled glucose was set to investigate the effect of labile C and N on deep SOC mineralization.Microbial biomass,functional community,metabolic efficiency and enzyme activities were examined for their effects on SOC mineralization and PE.During incubation,glucose addition promoted SOC mineralization,resulting in positive PE.The magnitude of PE decreased significantly with increasing N.The N-regulated PE was not dependent on extracellular enzyme activities but was positively correlated with carbon use efficiency and negatively with metabolic quotient.Higher N levels resulted in higher microbial biomass and SOC-derived microbial biomass than lower N levels.These results suggest that the decline in the PE under high N availability was mainly controlled by higher microbial metabolic efficiency which allocated more C for growth.Structural equation modelling also revealed that microbial metabolic efficiency rather than enzyme activities was the main factor regulating the PE.The negative effect of additional N suggests that future N deposition could promote soil C sequestration.

Lignin characteristics in soil profiles in different plant communities in a subtropical mixed forest

Aims Lignin is generally considered as an important indicator of soil organic carbon(SOC)storage and dynamics.to evaluate the effects of plant communities and soil depth on soil lignin is critical to better understand forest carbon cycling.Methods We compared lignin content and chemical signature in three soil depths of four major plant communities in a subtropical forest,which located in the north part of Wuling Mountains,China.Lignin was measured using CuO oxidation method.Important Findings Both lignin content and its biochemical signature in plant litter varied among communities.However,these differences were mostly no longer exist in the upper soil layers.Lignin chemistry in soils inherited some of the biochemical signature of lignin in litter,but in a diminished magnitude.these results suggest that different plant communities had similar decomposition process with vary-ing rates,caused diminished differences in lignin content and its biochemical signature.Lignin content decreased with soil depth,but the biochemical signature of lignin was not significantly dif-ferent among soil layers for all communities,which suggests that vertical movement of lignin within the soil profile is very likely a key process causing this similar biochemical signature.these results emphasized the important roles of lignin inputs and soil eluviation in shaping lignin characteristics and distribution in forest soils,which pinpoint the urgent need to consider hydrological processes in studying forest soil carbon cycling.