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

作者：Ying Wang, Liang Chen, Wenhua Xiang, Xiulan Zhang, Yan Ren, Zhiming Guo, Anna Gunina · 发表于：Land Degradation and Development · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1002/ldr.5150 · 被引用次数：15 · 研究领域：Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics、Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology、Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics

Abstract 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 res...