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N fertilization affects on soil respiration, microbial biomass and root respiration in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica plantations in China

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Abstract

The response of belowground biological processes to soil N availability in Larix gmelinii (larch) and Fraxinus mandshurica (ash) plantations was studied. Soil and root respiration were measured with Li-Cor 6400 and gas-phase O2 electrodes, respectively. Compared with the control, N fertilization induced the decreases of fine root biomass by 52% and 25%, and soil respiration by 30% and 24% in larch and ash plantations, respectively. The average soil microbial biomass C and N were decreased by 29% and 42% under larch stand and 39% and 47% under ash stand, respectively. While the fine root tissue N concentration under fertilized plots was higher 26% and 12% than that under control plots, respectively, the average fine root respiration rates were increased by 10% and 13% in larch and ash stands under fertilized plot, respectively. Soil respiration rates showed significantly positive exponential relationships with soil temperature, and a seasonal dynamic. These findings suggest that N fertilization can suppress fine root biomass at five branch orders (<2 mm in diameter), soil respiration, and soil microbial biomass C and N, and alter soil microbial communities in L. gmelinii and F. mandshurica plantations.

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Abbreviations

Cmic and Nmic:

Soil microbial biomass C and N

cfu b :

The number of colony forming units of bacteria

cfu f :

fungi

cfu a :

actinomycetes

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Gu Jiacun, Hailong Sun, Changfu Huo, ** Zhang & Aizhen Liang

  • Forestry School of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China, 150040

    Shuxia Jia, Zhengquan Wang & Yue Sun

  • Jilin Provincial Academy of Forestry Sciences, Changchun, China, 130033

    **ngpeng Li

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    1. Shuxia Jia
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    2. Zhengquan Wang
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    3. **ngpeng Li
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    4. Yue Sun
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    5. ** Zhang
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    6. Aizhen Liang
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    Correspondence to Aizhen Liang.

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    Responsible editor: Hans Lambers.

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    Jia, S., Wang, Z., Li, X. et al. N fertilization affects on soil respiration, microbial biomass and root respiration in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica plantations in China. Plant Soil 333, 325–336 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0348-8

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