Phosphorus limitation induced by nitrogen addition changed soil microbial community structure in a subtropical Pinus taiwanensis forest

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202301.042

Abstract

Abstract: Soil microorganisms play an important role in the biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. How-ever, it is still unclear how the amount and duration of nitrogen (N) addition affect soil microbial community structure and whether there is a correlation between the changes in microbial community structure and their nutrient limi-tation status. In this study, we conducted an N addition experiment in a subtropical Pinus taiwanensis forest to simulate N deposition with three treatments: control (CK, 0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), low N (LN, 40 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), and high N (HN, 80 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1). Basic soil physicochemical properties, phospholipid fatty acids content, and carbon (C), N and phosphorus (P) acquisition enzyme activities were measured after one and three years of N addition. The relative nutrient limitation status of soil microorganisms was analyzed using ecological enzyme stoichiometry. The results showed that one-year N addition did not affect soil microbial community structure. Three-year LN treatment significantly increased the contents of Gram-positive bacteria (G⁺), Gram-negative bacteria (G^-), actinomycetes (ACT), and total phospholipid fatty acids (TPLFA), whereas three-year HN treatment did not significantly affect soil microbial community, indicating that bacteria and ACT might be more sensitive to N addition. Nitrogen addition exacerbated soil C and P limitation. Phosphorus limitation was the optimal explanatory factor for the changes in soil microbial community structure. It suggested that P limitation induced by N addition might be more beneficial for the growth of certain oligotrophic bacteria (e.g. G⁺) and the microorganisms participating in the P cycling (e.g. ACT), with consequences on soil microbial community structure of subtropical Pinus taiwanensis forest.

Key words: nitrogen addition, phospholipid fatty acids, phosphorus limitation, carbon limitation.

ZHANG Xiao-qing, ZENG Quan-xin, YUAN Xiao-cun, WAN Xiao-hua, CUI Ju-yan, LI Wen-zhou, LIN Hui-ying, XIE Huan, CHEN Wen-wei, WU Jun-mei, CHEN Yueh-min. Phosphorus limitation induced by nitrogen addition changed soil microbial community structure in a subtropical Pinus taiwanensis forest[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2023, 34(1): 203-212.

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