“…Additionally, the adverse impact of eO 3 on plant performance reduces the C input from aboveground leaf litter, belowground root debris and rhizodeposition to the soil (Agathokleous et al., 2020; Andersen, 2003; Xia et al., 2021). This, in turn, significantly affects belowground microbial communities and microbially derived ecosystem multifunctionality, such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil formation and protection (Gu et al., 2023; Loya et al., 2003; Qiu et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2023). The profound effect of eO 3 on soil C dynamics as well as microbial activities (Simpson et al., 2014; Tisdale, Zentella, et al., 2021; Xia et al., 2021) might be due to eO 3 ‐caused suppression in microbial enzymes involved in C degradation (e.g., β‐glucosidase, ligninase, and cellulase) (Dolker et al., 2020; Larson et al., 2002; Xia et al., 2021) and genes associated with C cycling (He et al., 2014; Li et al., 2013).…”