Manipulated precipitation regulated carbon and phosphorus limitations of microbial metabolisms in a temperate grassland on the Loess Plateau,China

Manipulated precipitation patterns can profoundly influence the metabolism of soil microorganisms. However, the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient turnover to microbial metabolic limitation under changing precipitation conditions remain unclear in semi-arid ecosystems. This study measured the potential activities of enzymes associated with carbon (C: β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) and β-D-cellobiosidase (CBH)), nitrogen (N: β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and L-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP)) and phosphorus (P: alkaline phosphatase (AP)) acquisition, to quantify soil microbial metabolic limitations using enzymatic stoichiometry, and then identify the implications for soil microbial metabolic limitations and carbon use efficiency (CUE) under decreased precipitation by 50% (DP) and increased precipitation by 50% (IP) in a temperate grassland. The results showed that soil C and P were the major elements limiting soil microbial metabolism in temperate grasslands. There was a strong positive dependence between microbial C and P limitations under manipulated precipitation. Microbial metabolism limitation was promoted by DP treatment but reversed by IP treatment. Moreover, CUE was inhibited by DP treatment but promoted by IP treatment. Soil microbial metabolism limitation was mainly regulated by soil moisture and soil C, N, and P stoichiometry, followed by available nutrients (i.e., NO- 3, NH+ 4, and dissolved organic C) and microbial biomass (i.e., MBC and MBN). Overall, these findings highlight the potential role of changing precipitation in regulating ecosystem C turnover by limiting microbial metabolism and CUE in temperate grassland ecosystems.     

内蒙古荒漠草原南缘春季消融期土壤水热变化特征及其对气象因子的响应

基于内蒙古荒漠草原南缘2009-2018年的土壤温湿度与气温降水实测数据,利用统计学、相关性分析及回归分析相结合的方法研究了春季消融期内蒙古荒漠草原土壤温湿度的动态变化及相互关系.通过研究荒漠草原在消融过程中土壤水热的变化规律及相互影响,揭示气象因子对土壤温湿度的影响,并为调整牧业发展模式及恢复生态环境提供科学依据.结...