Warming and nitrogen deposition lessen microbial residue contribution to soil carbon pool

Liang, Chao; Balser, Teri C.

doi:10.1038/ncomms2224

Cited by 121 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Better region‐specific estimates are also needed for microbial responses to climate change for making credible policy recommendations and reducing uncertainty. For example, it is likely that warming not only destabilizes microbial necromass causing its significant decline in California grasslands (Liang & Balser, ) but may also lead to enhanced necromass storage via stimulating microbial growth and necromass accumulation in high‐elevation ecosystems (Ding et al, ). The unknown optimum for maximizing global carbon storage likely depends on soil order, proximal climate, the availability of other carbon and nutrient sources, management, and the velocity and efficiency of related C stabilization processes.…”

Section: Actions For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter

Liang

Amelung

Lehmann

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

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931

452

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Soil carbon transformation and sequestration have received significant interest in recent years due to a growing need for quantitating its role in mitigating climate change. Even though our understanding of the nature of soil organic matter has recently been substantially revised, fundamental uncertainty remains about the quantitative importance of microbial necromass as part of persistent organic matter. Addressing this uncertainty has been hampered by the absence of quantitative assessments whether microbial matter makes up the majority of the persistent carbon in soil. Direct quantitation of microbial necromass in soil is very challenging because of an overlapping molecular signature with nonmicrobial organic carbon. Here, we use a comprehensive analysis of existing biomarker amino sugar data published between 1996 and 2018, combined with novel appropriation using an ecological systems approach, elemental carbon–nitrogen stoichiometry, and biomarker scaling, to demonstrate a suit of strategies for quantitating the contribution of microbe‐derived carbon to the topsoil organic carbon reservoir in global temperate agricultural, grassland, and forest ecosystems. We show that microbial necromass can make up more than half of soil organic carbon. Hence, we suggest that next‐generation field management requires promoting microbial biomass formation and necromass preservation to maintain healthy soils, ecosystems, and climate. Our analyses have important implications for improving current climate and carbon models, and helping develop management practices and policies.

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Section: Actions For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter

Liang

Amelung

Lehmann

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

Self Cite

931

452

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“…For example, conservation tillage reduces soil disturbance and the soil organic matter decomposition rate (Salinas- Garcia, Hons, & Matocha, 1997) and promotes fungal and earthworm biomass (Lavelle, Brussaard, & Hendrix, 1999;Briones & Schmidt, 2017), thereby improving SOC stabilization (Liang & Balser, 2012). For example, conservation tillage reduces soil disturbance and the soil organic matter decomposition rate (Salinas- Garcia, Hons, & Matocha, 1997) and promotes fungal and earthworm biomass (Lavelle, Brussaard, & Hendrix, 1999;Briones & Schmidt, 2017), thereby improving SOC stabilization (Liang & Balser, 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of soil carbon sequestration to climate‐smart agriculture practices: A meta‐analysis

Bai

Huang

Ren

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

291

116

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Climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) management practices (e.g., conservation tillage, cover crops, and biochar applications) have been widely adopted to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring crop productivity. However, current measurements regarding the influences of CSA management practices on SOC sequestration diverge widely, making it difficult to derive conclusions about individual and combined CSA management effects and bringing large uncertainties in quantifying the potential of the agricultural sector to mitigate climate change. We conducted a meta‐analysis of 3,049 paired measurements from 417 peer‐reviewed articles to examine the effects of three common CSA management practices on SOC sequestration as well as the environmental controlling factors. We found that, on average, biochar applications represented the most effective approach for increasing SOC content (39%), followed by cover crops (6%) and conservation tillage (5%). Further analysis suggested that the effects of CSA management practices were more pronounced in areas with relatively warmer climates or lower nitrogen fertilizer inputs. Our meta‐analysis demonstrated that, through adopting CSA practices, cropland could be an improved carbon sink. We also highlight the importance of considering local environmental factors (e.g., climate and soil conditions and their combination with other management practices) in identifying appropriate CSA practices for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring crop productivity.

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“…specific enzyme activities and soil microbial biomass567, to mineralize complex organic substances489 and control the cycling of nutrients and carbon storage in soils10. However, the diversity of soil bacteria, fungi and soil microbiological activities and thus soil ecosystem functioning are strongly affected by human activities5 and climate change111213.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil bacterial and fungal diversity differently correlated with soil biochemistry in alpine grassland ecosystems in response to environmental changes

Zhang

Dong

Gao

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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To understand effects of soil microbes on soil biochemistry in alpine grassland ecosystems under environmental changes, we explored relationships between soil microbial diversity and soil total nitrogen, organic carbon, available nitrogen and phosphorus, soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities in alpine meadow, alpine steppe and cultivated grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau under three-year warming, enhanced precipitation and yak overgrazing. Soil total nitrogen, organic carbon and NH4-N were little affected by overgrazing, warming or enhanced precipitation in three types of alpine grasslands. Soil microbial biomass carbon and phosphorus along with the sucrase and phosphatase activities were generally stable under different treatments. Soil NO3-N, available phosphorus, urease activity and microbial biomass nitrogen were increased by overgrazing in the cultivated grassland. Soil bacterial diversity was positively correlated with, while soil fungal diversity negatively with soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities. Soil bacterial diversity was negatively correlated with, while soil fungal diversity positively with soil available nutrients. Our findings indicated soil bacteria and fungi played different roles in affecting soil nutrients and microbiological activities that might provide an important implication to understand why soil biochemistry was generally stable under environmental changes in alpine grassland ecosystems.

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Warming and nitrogen deposition lessen microbial residue contribution to soil carbon pool

Cited by 121 publications

References 30 publications

Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter

Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter

Responses of soil carbon sequestration to climate‐smart agriculture practices: A meta‐analysis

Soil bacterial and fungal diversity differently correlated with soil biochemistry in alpine grassland ecosystems in response to environmental changes

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