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Effects of elevated nitrogen deposition on soil microbial biomass carbon in major subtropical forests of southern China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Forestry in China

Abstract

The effects of elevated nitrogen deposition on soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in three types of forest of southern China were studied in November, 2004 and June, 2006. Plots were established in a pine forest (PF), a mixed pine and broad-leaved forest (MF) and monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest (MEBF) in the Dinghushan Nature Reserve. Nitrogen treatments included a control (no N addition), low N (50 kg N/(hm2·a)), medium N (100 kg N/(hm2·a)) and high N (150 kg N/(hm2·a)). Microbial biomass C and extractable DOC were determined using a chloroform fumigation-extraction method. Results indicate that microbial biomass C and extractable DOC were higher in June, 2006 than in November, 2004 and higher in the MEBF than in the PF or the MF. The response of soil microbial biomass C and extractable DOC to nitrogen deposition varied depending on the forest type and the level of nitrogen treatment. In the PF or MF forests, no significantly different effects of nitrogen addition were found on soil microbial biomass C and extractable DOC. In the MEBF, however, the soil microbial biomass C generally decreased with increased nitrogen levels and high nitrogen addition significantly reduced soil microbial biomass C. The response of soil extractable DOC to added nitrogen in the MEBF shows the opposite trend to soil microbial biomass C. These results suggest that nitrogen deposition may increase the accumulation of soil organic carbon in the MEBF in the study region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, State Forestry Administration, Beijing, 100091, China

    Hui Wang

  2. Dinghushan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhaoqing, 526070, China

    Hui Wang, Jiangming Mo, Xiankai Lu, Jinghua Xue, Jiong Li & Yunting Fang

Authors
  1. Hui Wang
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  2. Jiangming Mo
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  3. Xiankai Lu
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  4. Jinghua Xue
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  5. Jiong Li
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  6. Yunting Fang
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Correspondence to Jiangming Mo.

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Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2008, 28(2): 470–478 [译自: 生态学报]

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Wang, H., Mo, J., Lu, X. et al. Effects of elevated nitrogen deposition on soil microbial biomass carbon in major subtropical forests of southern China. Front. For. China 4, 21–27 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11461-009-0013-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11461-009-0013-7

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