The soil microbial carbon pump: From conceptual insights to empirical assessments

Zhu, Xuefeng; Jackson, Randall D.; DeLucia, Evan H.; Tiedje, James M.; Liang, Chao

doi:10.1111/gcb.15319

Cited by 189 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…While our knowledge about soil C sequestration has been significantly advanced by the recent conceptual and technological breakthroughs (Cotrufo et al, 2019; Lehmann et al, 2020), how soils can be managed to efficiently sequester C remains a huge research gap. Emerging evidence reveals that SOC storage depends on the retention of C derived from both plants and microorganisms (Schmidt et al, 2011; Sokol et al, 2019; Zhu et al, 2020). Partitioning SOC into plant‐ and microbial‐derived C aids both in our understanding of the C formation pathways, as well as the mechanisms of SOC stability/persistence (Joergensen, 2018; Liang et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting pathways of carbon sequestration in paddy and upland soils

Chen

Xia

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

200

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Paddy soils make up the largest anthropogenic wetlands on earth, and are characterized by a prominent potential for organic carbon (C) sequestration. By quantifying the plant‐ and microbial‐derived C in soils across four climate zones, we identified that organic C accrual is achieved via contrasting pathways in paddy and upland soils. Paddies are 39%–127% more efficient in soil organic C (SOC) sequestration than their adjacent upland counterparts, with greater differences in warmer than cooler climates. Upland soils are more replenished by microbial‐derived C, whereas paddy soils are enriched with a greater proportion of plant‐derived C, because of the retarded microbial decomposition under anaerobic conditions induced by the flooding of paddies. Under both land‐use types, the maximal contribution of plant residues to SOC is at intermediate mean annual temperature (15–20°C), neutral soil (pH~7.3), and low clay/sand ratio. By contrast, high temperature (~24°C), low soil pH (~5), and large clay/sand ratio are favorable for strengthening the contribution of microbial necromass. The greater contribution of microbial necromass to SOC in waterlogged paddies in warmer climates is likely due to the fast anabolism from bacteria, whereas fungi are unlikely to be involved as they are aerobic. In the scenario of land‐use conversion from paddy to upland, a total of 504 Tg C may be lost as CO2 from paddy soils (0–15 cm) solely in eastern China, with 90% released from the less protected plant‐derived C. Hence, preserving paddy systems and other anthropogenic wetlands and increasing their C storage through sustainable management are critical for maintaining global soil C stock and mitigating climate change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting pathways of carbon sequestration in paddy and upland soils

Chen

Xia

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

200

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…This process results in a thick layer of underground microbial residue, and their relatively stable storage contributes to the persistence of organic carbon in the soil 6,9 . Consequently, dynamic changes of these residues can significantly affect the balance of the terrestrial carbon budget 6,[9][10][11] . Dead remains of microorganisms (residual substance) can be traced by amino sugars; this can help in characterizing the source of SOC and estimating its stability potential [11][12][13] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, dynamic changes of these residues can significantly affect the balance of the terrestrial carbon budget 6,[9][10][11] . Dead remains of microorganisms (residual substance) can be traced by amino sugars; this can help in characterizing the source of SOC and estimating its stability potential [11][12][13] . Studies using advanced research methods have revealed that microbial carbon is important for the formation of stable soil SOC 10,[14][15][16][17] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threshold conditions for the accumulation of microbial residues in terrestrial ecosystems

Hao

Zhao

Wang

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Microbial residues play important roles in the formation and stability of soil carbon pools; however, the factors affecting large-scale accumulation of microbial residues remain unclear. Here, we collected data of 268 amino sugar levels (biomarkers of microbial residues) from previous field studies and found that soil organic carbon (SOC), soil C:N ratio, and aridity index mainly determine the accumulation of microbial residual carbon. Moreover, we found that the threshold of the aridity index where microbial residue starts decreasing is in the range of humid climate type, while the threshold of soil C:N ratio represents a point of sharp decrease in fungal abundance. Although SOC and aridity index were important in all cases, the dominant factors for predicting microbial residues varied across different ecosystems and climate zones, with pH being particularly important. Hence, climate and soil environment play important roles in the process of microbial residue accumulation.

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“…Among various natural and anthropogenic factors, the type (mineral and organic) and amount of fertilization play leading roles in maintaining or altering soil quality. For example, during the conversion from natural broad-leaf forest to tea ( Camellia sinensis L.) plantations, mineral fertilization decreased organic carbon (SOC) stock and hence negatively affected the soil quality (Fan and Han, 2018; Zhu et al, 2020). Long-term N fertilization commonly induces soil acidification (Guo et al, 2010; Kuzyakov et al, 2021, Geoderma).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced soil quality after forest conversion to vegetable cropland and tea plantation has contrasting effects on soil microbial structure and functions

Fan

Shao

Pan

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Land-use changes could potentially exert a strong influence on soil quality and soil microbial communities. Moreover, microbial taxa are also important drivers of soil ecological functions. However, the linkage between soil quality and soil microbial communities is in need of deeper understanding. In this study, we examined the effects of soil quality on microbial community structure and functions after forest conversion to vegetable cropland and tea plantations. Soil quality index was significantly increased after natural forest conversion to vegetable cropland and tea plantations. Soil bacterial beta diversity significantly correlated to soil quality, but the sensitivity of individual microbial groups varied in response to changes in soil quality. Higher soil quality promoted bacterial diversity in vegetable cropland but decreased it in tea plantations, which implied soil quality was a structural factor in bacterial community composition but had contrasting effects for croplands versus plantations. Agricultural management played a negative role in maintaining microbial interactions, as identified by the network analysis, and furthermore the analysis revealed key functions of the microbial communities. After land-use change, the abundance (e.g., level, intensity) of microbial N-cycling function increased in tea plantations but decreased in vegetable cropland. The abundance of C-cycling function featured an opposite trend. Higher level of N-fixation in tea plantations but the higher abundance of N-oxidation in vegetable cropland was demonstrated. Higher abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing archaea as identified by qPCR in vegetable cropland corroborated the FAPROTAX function prediction. Therefore, the key taxa of soil microbial communities and microbial functions were largely dependent on changes in soil quality and determined responses to specific agricultural management.

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The soil microbial carbon pump: From conceptual insights to empirical assessments

Cited by 189 publications

References 74 publications

Contrasting pathways of carbon sequestration in paddy and upland soils

Contrasting pathways of carbon sequestration in paddy and upland soils

Threshold conditions for the accumulation of microbial residues in terrestrial ecosystems

Enhanced soil quality after forest conversion to vegetable cropland and tea plantation has contrasting effects on soil microbial structure and functions

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