Forest succession accelerates soil carbon accumulation by increasing recalcitrant carbon stock in subtropical forest topsoils

Xiang, Huimin; Zhang, Lingling; Hou, Enqing; Li, Jiong; Zhu, Qiandong

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2022.106030

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…After prescribed burning and reforestation, the lowest POC and MAOC in the organic horizon were found in 7‐year‐old stands (Figure 1a,b; Table S1), due to the silvicultural practices reduced soil fertility and the soil C, N, and P contents were found in the most recently regenerated stands (3‐year‐old stands) (Wu, Xiang, Chen, et al, 2020; Wu, Xiang, Ouyang, et al, 2020; Xia et al, 2021; Xiang et al, 2009; Xiang, Luo, et al, 2022; Xiang, Xu, et al, 2022). The loss of SOC in the studied plots is related to the (i) decrease of litter input, (ii) intensive uptake of nutrients by the growing trees (Wang et al, 2018), (iii) enhanced activities of microorganisms, which are stimulated by the mechanical crush of aggregates releasing available C sources (Abiven et al, 2009; Johnson & Curtis, 2001; Liao & Boutton, 2008; Liski et al, 1998; Mataix‐Solera et al, 2011; Wan et al, 2001), and (iv) change of soil physical properties such as bulk density (Chen & Shrestha, 2012), which can also intensify decomposition of SOC.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulation of soil organic carbon dynamics by microbial communities during reforestation of Chinese fir plantations after clear‐cutting

Wang,

Chen,

Xiang

et al. 2024

Land Degrad Dev

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Reforestation after forest clear‐cutting is an effective measure to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration; still, the soil C balance under reforestation and the role of microbial communities in that process remain to be determined. Samples of organic (0–2 cm) and mineral (2–10 cm) horizons were collected from the 7‐, 15‐, 20‐, 29‐, and 36‐year‐old forest stands of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) after plantation clear‐cutting in subtropical zone under the condition of phosphorus limitation. Particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC), microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), and enzymatic activities for C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) acquisition were analyzed. The lowest contents of POC (10%) and MAOC (13%) in the organic horizon were found in 7‐year‐old stands due to the slow tree regrowth and extensive decomposition of SOC in the first years of forest regrowth. POC (2.0×) and MAOC (0.8×) increases in the organic horizon with forest age were attributed to the stand development and accumulation of above‐ and belowground litter. The organic horizon had a higher POC:MAOC ratio than the mineral (0.7–1.1 vs. 0.2–0.5), indicating lower SOC stability in the first one. The ratio of POC:MAOC increased with the Gram‐positive to Gram‐negative bacteria (G+:G‐) ratio, pointing out that microbial communities developed a specific community structure and substrate utilization strategies of organic matter under plantation restoration. The increase of total PLFAs and the G+:G‐ ratio was closely linked with the microbial C and P limitations, indicating that microorganisms shifted community structure to slow‐growing species and increased their content to cope with the C and P restrictions. In the soils of young plantations, microorganisms were limited by C and P; however, the C limitation was alleviated in the 36‐year‐old plots in the organic horizon due to increased litter input, whereas the P limitation was not. This discrepancy between C and P limitation suppressed the decomposition of litter entering the soil, which was seen in decreased specific activity of C degrading enzymes and led to the accumulation of POC in the organic horizon. Thus, soil C sequestration under reforestation of Chinese fir can be controlled by the amount of litter entering the soil and by metabolic C, N, and P limitations that force microorganisms to shift community structure and change their activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulation of soil organic carbon dynamics by microbial communities during reforestation of Chinese fir plantations after clear‐cutting

Wang,

Chen,

Xiang

et al. 2024

Land Degrad Dev

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“…Here, we did not analyze the effect of fine root turnover on soil organic carbon storage but a study in the tropical forests of Panama reported that fine root production and turnover contributed to organic matter addition in surface soil but this effect was minimal in the deeper soil horizons, which can be explained by the decline of fine root turnover rates with soil depth (Cusack et al 2021;Cordeiro et al 2020). Fine root biomass production and turnover contributed to increased particulate and readily oxidizable organic carbon in the soil, resulting in total soil organic carbon in a subtropical forest (Xiang et al 2022). Fine root turnover makes a greater contribution to organic carbon accumulation in soil aggregates than aboveground litterfall during the course of forest succession because of the distribution of root biomass in the soil profile (Shi et al 2023).…”

Section: Implications Of Plant Succession In Future Estimates Of Carb...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine Root Production and Turnover Along a Forest Succession After Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

Aryal,

Morales Ruiz,

Molina Alvarado

et al. 2024

Trop Subtrop Agroecosyst

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Background. Fine root production and turnover are the fundamental processes of net primary productivity in forest ecosystems. Fine root production and turnover rates can vary with the successional gradients of the forest ecosystems created by land use changes. Objective. To evaluate the variations in fine root production and turnover along the successional gradients of tropical secondary forests and compare them with adjacent primary forests. Methodology. A total of 256 cylindrical ingrowth bags (of 8 cm diameter and 30 cm depth) were established in 16 forest stands representing four stages of succession. Four ingrowth bags from each stand were collected at an interval of about three months. Live and dead fine roots (≤2 mm diameter) were separated, washed, oven-dried, and weighed. Results. There was no significant difference in annual fine root productivity between secondary forests and primary forests but the fine root turnover rates were higher in secondary forests than in primary forests. Fine root production rates varied from 1.9 to 2.8 Mg of dry biomass ha-1 yr-1 while fine root turnover over rates ranged from 1.1 to 1.5 yr-1. Fine root production was higher in the dry season compared to the wet season. Implications. The results on fine root dynamics can be useful in modeling below-ground mechanisms of carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems during succession. Conclusions. Fine root productivity did not vary with forest age but the relative turnover rates were higher in secondary forests than in primary forests. Tree basal area was a significant predictor of fine root production.

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“…In our study, increasing evergreen broad-leaved tree species intensified microbial C limitation, indicating reduced microbial C sources. This may have been due to insufficient C input into soils and fixed SOC from soil protection or an increase in recalcitrant SOC [39][40][41]. However, considering litter quality and composition, the first reason seems invalid.…”

Section: Nutrient Limitation Status Of Soil Microbesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring Subtropical Forests: Alleviating P Limitation and Introducing C Limitation Using Evergreen Broad-Leaved Tree Species

Yang,

Xia,

Fan

et al. 2024

Forests

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Determining which species to utilize for the artificial restoration of subtropical secondary forests has become a focal point in forestry and ecology. To compare the effects of the subtropical secondary forest artificial restoration model on soil microbial nutrient acquisition and limitation, we examined secondary forests (CKs), evergreen coniferous forests (GCPs), evergreen coniferous mixed broad-leaved forests (GCBMs), evergreen mixed broad-leaved forests (GBMs), and natural deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests (DBMs) as research subjects. Among them, GCPs, GCBMs, and GBMs were dominated by the species of the early, middle, and climax stages of subtropical forest succession, respectively. The activities and stoichiometry of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and acid phosphatase (ACP) in the topsoil were analyzed. The results showed that the forest type significantly affects the activities of BG and LAP rather than NAG or ACP. The BG activity in DBMs was the lowest, while the LAP activity in CKs was significantly higher than that in plantations. Furthermore, the nutrient limitation of microbes was quantitatively analyzed by using the vector analysis of enzyme stoichiometry. The soil microbes in the study area were co-limited by C and P, and the nutrient limitation was in the order of C > P > N. Among the forests, the enzyme stoichiometric ratios in GCPs and DBMs were closest to 1:1:1. From CKs to GBMs, the microbial C limitation was increased, while the P limitation was decreased. The C limitation in DBMs was slightly lower than that in CKs. Overall, the P limitation in evergreen plantations was less than that in CKs. The soil bulk density, C/P, and N/P significantly influenced enzyme activities and stoichiometry. These results suggest that the artificial restoration of subtropical forests using evergreen species alleviated P limitation, while using deciduous broad-leaved species offered potential for alleviating microbial C limitation. Compared with evergreen broad-leaved species, employing pioneer and mid-successional or deciduous broad-leaved species can better achieve balanced microbial nutrient requirements.

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Forest succession accelerates soil carbon accumulation by increasing recalcitrant carbon stock in subtropical forest topsoils

Cited by 16 publications

References 53 publications

Regulation of soil organic carbon dynamics by microbial communities during reforestation of Chinese fir plantations after clear‐cutting

Regulation of soil organic carbon dynamics by microbial communities during reforestation of Chinese fir plantations after clear‐cutting

Fine Root Production and Turnover Along a Forest Succession After Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

Restoring Subtropical Forests: Alleviating P Limitation and Introducing C Limitation Using Evergreen Broad-Leaved Tree Species

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