Effect of Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) on the Community Structure of Aquatic Organisms in Floodwater of a Japanese Paddy Field during the Flooding Period of Rice Cultivation

In the present study, the effect of free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) on the diversity and the community structure of aquatic organisms in the floodwater of a paddy field in northern Japan was evaluated. The varieties and the number of aquatic organisms ranging from 30 μm to 2 cm were compared four times at intervals of 20 d between the FACE (599 ppm CO₂) and ambient air (384 ppm CO₂) plots during the flooding period of rice cultivation. Aquatic organisms were classified mainly at the order level. Twenty-eight taxonomical groups were detected, and the number of groups in the FACE plots was significantly lower than that in the ambient plots. Zygnematales and Chaetonotida were less frequently detected in the FACE plots. The population densities of Zygnematales, and Chaetonotida also tended to be lower in the FACE plots than in the ambient plots in the late flooding period (after 50 d of flooding). No groups showed a significantly higher population density and frequency of presence in the FACE plots than in the ambient plots. The seasonal variations in the number of taxonomical groups and the community structure of aquatic organisms were less conspicuous in the FACE plots than in the ambient plots. We concluded that the FACE conditions adversely affected the communities of aquatic organisms in paddy fields.     

大气CO2浓度升高对矿质元素在水稻中分配及其根际有效性的影响

在开放式空气CO₂浓度升高(free-air CO₂ enrichment, FACE)条件下,研究了籼稻IIY084与粳稻WYJ23根际土壤矿质元素(Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、Ca和Mg)有效态含量及其在水稻各组织中的吸收与分配,结合前期稻米矿质元素含量下降的研究结果,探讨了其下降的机制。结果表明:大气CO₂浓度升高,显著增加水稻穗、茎、根和整株生物量,两个品种平均增加19.4%、9.3%、23.4%、16.0%;根际土壤中矿质元素的有效态含量大体呈增加趋势;除Ca吸收量增加外,水稻其他矿质元素总吸收量未发生显著变化;显著促进大部分矿质元素在穗中的吸收与分配,而降低其在茎中的分配比;在穗内有增加大部分矿质元素在壳梗中滞留的趋势,相应地减少其在糙米中的分配比。品种效应分析显示,IIY084的茎和整株生物量,以及穗中Fe、Mn、Cu,叶中Zn、Mg,茎中Cu的吸收量与分配百分数均显著高于WYJ23,而叶中Mn、茎中Fe和根中Cu、Zn则呈相反趋势。可见,大气CO₂浓度升高条件下,碳水化合物与矿质元素从植...     

在FACE条件下作物轮作过程中碳的流通

Mostly based on assumptions derived from controlled-environment studies, predicted future atmospheric CO2 concentrations [CO2] are expected to have considerable impacts on carbon （C） turnover in agro-ecosystems. In order to allow the in situ examination of C-transformations in the plant-soil system of arable crop rotations under future [002], a free air carbon dioxide enrichment （FACE） experiment （550 μmol mol^-1 CO2） was started at Braunschweig, Germany in 1999. The crop rotation under investigation comprised winter barley, a cover crop （ryegrass）, sugar beets and winter wheat. Assessments of CO2 effects included the determination of above- and belowground biomass production, measurements of canopy CO2- and H2O- fluxes, soil microbial biomass and in situ soil respiration. The results obtained during the 1st crop rotation cycle （3 years） showed that for the selected crops elevated [CO2] entailed significant positive effects （P 〈 0.05） on aboveground （6%-14% stimulation） and belowground biomass production （up to 90% stimulation）, while canopy evapotranspiration was reduced. This resulted in increased soil water content. Also, depending on crop type and season, high CO2 stimulated in situ soil respiration （up to 30%）, while soil microbial biomass did not show significant respouses to elevated [CO2] during the first rotation cycle.     

不同氮素水平下冬小麦叶片酚酸类物质代谢对FACE的响应

利用开放式空气CO2浓度升高(Free Air Carbon-dioxide Enrichment, FACE)平台, 研究了低氮(LN)和常氮(NN)水平下, 大气CO2浓度升高对冬小麦叶片酚酸类物质代谢的影响.结果表明, CO2浓度升高对小麦叶片水杨酸、对羟基苯甲酸、肉桂酸、阿魏酸和香草酸含量的影响随供氮水平的不同而有所差异.低氮下小麦通过提高叶片苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性(30.1%)而使其含量均显著增加, 增幅分别达33.7%、119.6%、26.7%、39.9%和28.6%; 而常氮下PAL活性和酚酸类含量变化均未达显著水平.可见, 大气CO2浓度升高对冬小麦酚酸类物质代谢的影响受氮水平的调控, 在未来CO2浓度升高条件下, 选择适宜的施肥水平将显得更为重要.此外, 总酚含量与水杨酸、对羟基苯甲酸、肉桂酸、阿魏酸和香草酸等含量变化趋势基本一致, 且总酚含量变化的79.6%～151.4%是由这几种酚酸含量变化引起的, 说明CO2浓度升高使水杨酸、对羟基苯甲酸、肉桂酸、阿魏酸和香草酸等含量增加是总酚含量增加的直接原因.低氮条件下大气CO2浓度升高将通过改变酚酸类物质代谢而间接影响小麦与伴生杂草的关系.     

水稻根系内生细菌对未来大气CO2浓度升高的响应

针对中国FACE（Free Air CO2 Enrichment）平台的镇籼96、扬稻8号、II优084和扬两优6号四种水稻品种,采用新一代高通量测序技术,研究了水稻根系内生菌的整体微生物群落对未来大气CO2浓度升高的响应。结果表明,水稻内生菌群落中γ-变形菌纲的肠杆菌科相对丰度最高,占整体微生物群落的30.8%~59.8%。对于镇籼96、扬稻8号和II优084三种水稻品种,大气CO2浓度升高可能抑制了数量上占优势的微生物菌群（优势菌群）生长,而促进了数量上不占优势的微生物菌群（稀少菌群）繁殖。例如,对于II优084品种,相对丰度高于14.6%的4种水稻内生菌为肠杆菌科、假单胞菌科、黄单胞菌科和气单胞菌科,大气CO2浓度升高,这些优势菌群的相对丰度由74.8%降为67.2%;相反,稀少菌群主要由鞘脂杆菌科、丛毛单胞菌科、黄杆菌科及草酸杆菌科组成,其相对丰度则由4.13%增至16.9%,其中,与对照处理相比,鞘脂杆菌科相对丰度增加比例高达344倍,是大气CO2浓度升高的最敏感微生物类群。但对于水稻品种扬两优6号,根系内生菌对大气CO2浓度升高的响应模式与其他它三种品种不完全一致。这些研究结果表明,微生物的相对丰度可能是影响水稻根系内生菌对大气CO2浓度升高响应的重要因素,为研究全球变化下整体微生物结构与功能的演变规律提供了一定的依据。     

大气CO2浓度升高对黄花蒿生长和氮磷钾养分吸收的影响

Annual wormwood (Artemisia annua L.) is the only viable source of artemisinin, an antimalarial drug. There is a pressing need to optimize production per cultivated area of this important medicinal plant; however, the effect of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration on its growth is still unclear. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted in a free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) facility in Yangzhou City, China. Two A. annua varieties, one wild and one cultivated, were grown under ambient (374 μmol mol^-1) and elevated (577 μmol mol^-1) CO₂ levels to determine the dry matter accumulation and macronutrient uptake of aerial parts. The results showed that stem and leaf yields of both A. annua varieties increased significantly under elevated CO₂ due to the enhanced photosynthesis rate. Although nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) concentrations in leaves and stems of both varieties decreased under elevated CO₂, total shoot N, P, and K uptake of the two varieties were enhanced and the ratios among the concentrations of these nutrients (N:P, N:K, and P:K) were not affected by elevated CO₂. Overall, our results provided the evidence that elevated CO₂ increased biomass and shoot macronutrient uptake of two A. annua varieties.     

FACE环境下不同秸秆与氮肥管理对稻田土壤硝化和反硝化菌的影响

利用位于江都市小记镇的中国稻-麦轮作FACE平台,采用最大可能(MPN)法,在2004年水稻生长季研究了不同施肥情况(施常规N量UN和低N量LN)、不同秸秆还田情况(秸秆全还田HR和秸秆不还田NR)下,土壤中硝化和反硝化细菌数量在FACE条件下随时间的变化。结果表明,FACE条件下,土壤硝化菌数普遍在抽穗期或乳熟期达到最大值,而对照土壤的硝化菌数普遍到成熟期才达到最大值,并且显著高于FACE处理的相应值(P<0.05)。在HR条件下,LN和UN小区FACE处理的土壤硝化细菌数量较对照减少6%~10%。FACE条件LN小区的反硝化菌数在成熟期达到最大值,而对照处理则在乳熟期达到最大值,并显著高于FACE处理(P<0.05);而UN小区的反硝化菌数二者均在抽穗期达到最大值。在LN小区HR和NR情况下,FACE处理土壤反硝化细菌数量分别低于对照处理的相应值8%和13%。在HR情况下,土壤反硝化潜势FACE处理显著低于对照。在LN和UN小区,FACE处理土壤的反硝化作用潜势分别是对照的83.7%和95.4%。     

二氧化碳施肥对番茄幼苗生长与养分吸收利用的影响

Exposing tomato seedlings to elevated CO2 concentrations may have potentially profound impacts on the tomato yield and quality. A growth chamber experiment was designed to estimate how different nutrient concentrations influenced the effect of elevated CO2 on the growth and nutrient uptake of tomato seedlings. Tomato (Hezuo 906) was grown in pots placed in controlled growth chambers and was subjected to ambient or elevated CO2 (360 or 720 μL L-1), and four nutrient solutions of different strengths (1/2-, 1/4-, 1/8-, and 1/16-strength Japan Yamazaki nutrient solutions) in a completely randomized design. The results indicated that some agricultural characteristics of the tomato seedlings such as the plant height, stem thickness, total dry and fresh weights of the leaves, stems and roots, the G value (G value = total plant dry weight/seedling age),and the seedling vigor index (seedling vigor index = stem thickness/(plant height × total plant dry weight) increased with the elevated CO2, and the increases were strongly dependent on the nutrient solution concentrations, being greater with higher nutrient solution concentrations. The elevated CO2 did not alter the ratio of root to shoot. The total N, P, K, and C absorbed from all the solutions except P in the 1/8- and 1/16-strength nutrient solutions increased in the elevated CO2 treatment. These results demonstrate that the nutrient demands of the tomato seedlings increased at elevated CO2 concentrations.     

CO2浓度升高对不同水稻品种幼苗养分吸收和根系形态的影响

本文利用水培试验研究了CO2浓度升高对水稻幼苗生物量、养分含量和根形态的影响,探讨了CO2浓度升高下粤杂889(YZ)和荣优398 (RY)幼苗养分吸收和根系形态的差异性.结果表明,与CO2浓度正常水平(对照)相比,CO2浓度升高显著增加了2个水稻品种幼苗根系、茎叶和总生物量,YZ分别增加58.33％、27.96％、33.16％;RY分别增加45.87％、34.17％、36.07％.同时,CO2浓度升高增加了2个水稻品种的根冠比.CO2浓度升高显著降低了2个水稻品种茎叶中的N、P、K、Ca、Mg和Fe含量,这是“稀释效应”的结果;但YZ幼苗中S含量显著增加,2个品种幼苗Mn含量均显著增加.CO2浓度升高显著增加了2个水稻品种的幼苗根系根毛数、总根长、表面积,降低幼苗粗根比例,增加了细根比例.CO2浓度升高增加了细根在总根长中的比例,有利于水稻对养分的吸收,导致部分营养元素含量增加;但CO2浓度升高条件下水稻生物量的增加使大部分营养元素含量降低.同时,CO2浓度升高对水稻幼苗生物量、养分吸收和根形态的影响存在显著的品种差异.     

高CO2浓度对不同氮素供给形态下水稻叶片光合作用的影响

为探究水稻叶片光合作用对高CO_2浓度([CO_2])的响应是否与氮素供给形态有关,利用人工气候生长箱,以粳稻(武运粳23号和淮稻5号)、籼稻(扬稻6号)和杂交稻(Y-两优6号)为试验材料,设置主处理:大气[CO_2]和高[CO_2]处理(+200μmol/mol),副处理:硝态氮和铵态氮处理,测定水稻新展开完全叶片的光合作用。试验结果表明:高[CO_2]会增加硝态氮处理下粳稻和杂交稻叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、铵态氮处理下粳稻武运粳23号叶片P_n以及各氮素供给形态下水稻叶片胞间[CO_2](C_i)和水分利用效率(WUE),其中在硝态氮处理下P_n和WUE的响应要高于铵态氮处理;高[CO_2]会降低水稻叶片的气孔导度(g_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r),其中在硝态氮处理下粳稻g_s和T_r的响应要高于籼稻,而在铵态氮处理下高[CO_2]对杂交稻g_s和T_r的影响要高于粳稻和籼稻。可见,不同的氮素供给形态会影响水稻叶片的光合作用对高[CO_2]的响应,且这种影响在水稻品种间存在很大差异。     

Seasonality of soil biological properties in a poplar plantation growing under elevated atmospheric CO2

Microorganisms are the regulators of decomposition processes occurring in soil, they also constitute a labile fraction of potentially available N. Microbial mineralization and nutrient cycling could be affected through altered plant inputs at elevated CO_2. An understanding of microbial biomass and microbial activity in response to belowground processes induced by elevated CO₂ is thus crucial in order to predict the long-term response of ecosystems to climatic changes. Microbial biomass, microbial respiration, inorganic N, extractable P and six enzymatic activities related to C, N, P and S cycling (β-glucosidase, cellulase, chitinase, protease, acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase) were investigated in soils of a poplar plantation exposed to elevated CO_2. Clones of Populus alba, Populus nigra and Populus x euramericana were grown in six 314 m² plots treated either with atmospheric (control) or enriched (550 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂) CO₂ concentration with FACE technology (free-air CO₂ enrichment). Chemical and biochemical parameters were monitored throughout a year in soil samples collected at five sampling dates starting from Autumn 2000 to Autumn 2001.

The aim of the present work was: (1) to determine if CO₂ enrichment induces modifications to soil microbial pool size and metabolism, (2) to test how the seasonal fluctuations of soil biochemical properties and CO₂ level interact, (3) to evaluate if microbial nutrient acquisition activity is changed under elevated CO₂.

CO₂ enrichment significantly affected soil nutrient content and three enzyme activities: acid phosphatase, chitinase and arylsulphatase, indicators of nutrient acquisition activity. Microbial biomass increased by a 16% under elevated CO₂. All soil biochemical properties were significantly affected by the temporal variability and the interaction between time and CO₂ level significantly influenced β-glucosidase activity and microbial respiration. Data on arylsulphatase and chitinase activity suggest a possible shift of microbial population in favour of fungi induced by the FACE treatment.     

大气CO2浓度升高对稻田土壤Ca、Mg迁移的中长期效应

为了进一步认识稻田土壤中Ca、Mg元素生物地球化学循环对大气CO2浓度升高的响应,本实验利用中国稻麦轮作FACE(free air carbon-dioxide enrichment)试验平台,通过观测稻季不同生育期不同深度(30、60和90 cm)土壤溶液中的Ca2+、Mg2+ 浓度,研究大气CO2浓度升高对土壤Ca、Mg淋移的中长时期(第9年)影响。研究结果表明,随着土壤深度的增加,土壤溶液中的Ca2+浓度呈降低趋势,Mg2+浓度呈增加趋势;随着生育期的推进,呈现先增加后减小的趋势,并在抽穗期达到最大值。大气CO2浓度升高略微降低30、60 cm处土壤溶液的Ca2+ 浓度,增加90 cm处Ca2+ 浓度(6.7%)。稻田不同深度土壤溶液中Mg2+ 浓度对大气CO2浓度升高的响应有所不同,且在60 cm处有较强的正响应(12.1%)。研究明确高浓度CO2有加剧Ca2+、Mg2+ 向下淋溶损失的趋势,耕层土壤有机物料输入增多、 浓度增加、pH下降等是主要原因。大气CO2浓度升高对农田生态系统土壤Ca、Mg元素循环的长期影响值得进一步关注。     

CO2浓度增高对水稻籽粒淀粉代谢相关酶活性的影响

以高产优质粳稻松粳9号和稻花香2号为材料,利用开放式空气CO₂浓度富集系统（FACE）实验平台,研究CO₂浓度增高对水稻籽粒淀粉代谢相关酶活性的影响。试验设正常大气CO₂浓度（400±40μmol·mol-1）和高CO₂浓度（600±60μmol·mol-1）,测定开花后两个水稻品种籽粒中ADPG焦磷酸化酶、淀粉合成酶和淀粉分支酶活性的变化。结果表明,CO₂浓度增高对不同灌浆进程中酶活性的影响程度有显著差异,对乳熟期之后ADPG焦磷酸化酶、可溶性和颗粒型淀粉合成酶活性的表达均有较明显的促进作用,仅阻碍了乳熟期籽粒中淀粉分支酶活性的表达;淀粉代谢相关酶活性对CO₂浓度增高的响应因品种而异,松粳9号籽粒中ADPG焦磷酸化酶活性受CO₂浓度增高的影响较大,而稻花香2号淀粉合成酶活性受其影响更大。说明随着灌浆进程的推进,CO₂浓度增高对淀粉生物合成途径中关键酶活性表达的影响程度存在明显的时段特征,且不同品种的响应程度有显著差异,总体来看,CO2浓度增高可在一定程度上促进淀粉代谢相关酶活性的表达。     

Carbon dynamics in a temperate grassland soil after 9 years exposure to elevated CO2 (Swiss FACE)

Elevated pCO₂ increases the net primary production, C/N ratio, and C input to the soil and hence provides opportunities to sequester CO₂-C in soils to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂. The Swiss 9 y grassland FACE (free air carbon-dioxide enrichment) experiment enabled us to explore the potential of elevated pCO₂ (60 Pa), plant species (Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L.) and nitrogen fertilization (140 and 540 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) on carbon sequestration and mineralization by a temperate grassland soil. Use of ¹³C in combination with respired CO₂ enabled the identification of the origins of active fractions of soil organic carbon. Elevated pCO₂ had no significant effect on total soil carbon, and total soil carbon was also independent of plant species and nitrogen fertilization. However, new (FACE-derived depleted ¹³C) input of carbon into the soil in the elevated pCO₂ treatments was dependent on nitrogen fertilization and plant species. New carbon input into the top 15 cm of soil from L. perennne high nitrogen (LPH), L. perenne low nitrogen (LPL) and T. repens low nitrogen (TRL) treatments during the 9 y elevated pCO₂ experiment was 9.3±2.0, 12.1±1.8 and 6.8±2.7 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively. Fractions of FACE-derived carbon in less protected soil particles >53 μm in size were higher than in <53 μm particles. In addition, elevated pCO₂ increased CO₂ emission over the 118 d incubation by 55, 61 and 13% from undisturbed soil from LPH, LPL and TRL treatments, respectively; but only by 13, 36, and 18%, respectively, from disturbed soil (without roots). Higher input of new carbon led to increased decomposition of older soil organic matter (priming effect), which was driven by the quantity (mainly roots) of newly input carbon (L. perenne) as well as the quality of old soil carbon (e.g. higher recalcitrance in T. repens). Based on these results, the potential of well managed and established temperate grassland soils to sequester carbon under continued increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ appears to be rather limited.     

大气CO2浓度和温度升高对水稻植株碳氮吸收及分配的影响

气候变化会对作物生长及养分吸收利用产生显著影响。本研究利用开放式气候变化野外试验平台,研究大气CO2浓度和温度升高对不同生育期水稻植株C、N含量,积累量和分配的影响。试验平台的小区处理有大气CO2浓度升高(500μmol/mol)、温度升高(+2℃)和大气CO2浓度和温度同时升高处理。结果表明:1大气CO2浓度升高显著增加了水稻植株中C含量,C、N积累量及水稻茎鞘中C、N分配;显著降低了水稻植株中N含量及穗中C、N的分配;2温度升高显著增加了拔节期和成熟期水稻叶片中C含量及各生育期水稻植株中N含量,拔节期植株中N积累量及成熟期茎鞘和叶片中C、N分配;显著降低了开花期和成熟期稻穗中C含量,开花期和灌浆期水稻植株中C积累量,成熟期水稻植株中N积累量,开花和灌浆期茎鞘中C素分配及成熟期穗中C、N分配;3大气CO2浓度和温度同时升高显著增加了灌浆期水稻植株中C含量及成熟期茎鞘中C、N分配并降低了叶片中N的含量和穗中C、N的分配,而C、N积累量则无显著变化。     

Dynamics of labile and recalcitrant soil carbon pools in a sorghum free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) agroecosystem

Experimentation with dynamics of soil carbon pools as affected by elevated CO₂ can better define the ability of terrestrial ecosystems to sequester global carbon. In the present study, 6 N HCl hydrolysis and stable-carbon isotopic analysis (δ¹³C) were used to investigate labile and recalcitrant soil carbon pools and the translocation among these pools of sorghum residues isotopically labeled in the 1998-1999 Arizona Maricopa free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment, in which elevated CO₂ (FACE: 560 μmol mol⁻¹) and ambient CO₂ (Control: 360 μmol mol⁻¹) interact with water-adequate (wet) and water-deficient (dry) treatments. We found that on average 53% of the final soil organic carbon (SOC) in the FACE plot was in the recalcitrant carbon pool and 47% in the labile pool, whereas in the Control plot 46% and 54% of carbon were in recalcitrant and labile pools, respectively, indicating that elevated CO₂ transferred more SOC into the slow-decay carbon pool. Also, isotopic mixing models revealed that increased new sorghum residue input to the recalcitrant pool mainly accounts for this change, especially for the upper soil horizon (0-30 cm) where new carbon in recalcitrant soil pools of FACE wet and dry treatments was 1.7 and 2.8 times as large as that in respective Control recalcitrant pools. Similarly, old C in the recalcitrant pool under elevated CO₂ was higher than that under ambient CO₂, indicating that elevated CO₂ reduces the decay of the old C in recalcitrant pool. Mean residence time (MRT) of bulk soil carbon at the depth of 0-30 cm was significantly longer in FACE plot than Control plot by the averages of 12 and 13 yr under the dry and wet conditions, respectively. The MRT was positively correlated to the ratio of carbon content in the recalcitrant pool to total SOC and negatively correlated to the ratio of carbon content in the labile pool to total SOC. Influence of water alone on the bulk SOC or the labile and recalcitrant pools was not significant. However, water stress interacting with CO₂ enhanced the shift of the carbon from labile pool to recalcitrant pool. Our results imply that terrestrial agroecosystems may play a critical role in sequestrating atmospheric CO₂ and mitigating harmful CO₂ under future atmospheric conditions.     

Changes in the fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio and microbial biomass in agriculturally managed soils under free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) - A six-year survey of a field study

In soil ecology, microbial parameters have been identified as sensitive indicators of changes in the soil environment. The Braunschweig FACE project provided the opportunity to study the effects of elevated CO₂ (550 μmol mol⁻¹) as compared to ambient CO₂ (370 μmol mol⁻¹) on total microbial biomass (C_mic), C_mic-to-C_org ratio and the fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio together with total C_org, N_t, C:N ratio and pH over a six-year period. Field management followed a typical crop rotation system of this region with either a crop-related full nitrogen supply (N100) or 50% reduced N supply (N50). The soil microbial parameters responded to the elevated CO₂ treatment in varying intensities and time spans. The fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio was the most sensitive parameter in responding to an elevated CO₂ treatment with highly significant differences to ambient CO₂-treated control plots in the third year of CO₂ fumigation. After six years bacterial respiratory activity had increased in ascending order to 34% in FACE-treated plots (N50 and N100) as compared to control plots. Soil microbial biomass (C_mic) responded more slowly to the FACE treatment with highly significant increases of >12% after the fourth year of CO₂ fumigation. The C_mic-to-C_org ratio responded very late in the last two years of the CO₂ treatment with a significant increase of >7.0% only in the N100 variant. Total C_org and N_t were slightly but significantly increased under FACE around 10.0% with ascending tendency over time starting with the second year of CO₂ treatment. No significant FACE effects could be recorded for the C:N ratio or pH.These results suggest that under FACE treatment changes in the soil microbial community will occur. In our study the fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio was superior to total C_mic as microbial bioindicators in reflecting changes in the soil organic matter composition.