Effects of litter and root manipulations on soil carbon and nitrogen in a Schrenk's spruce (Picea schrenkiana) forest.

ABSTRACT: Plant detritus represents the major source of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and changes in its quantity can influence below-ground biogeochemical processes in forests. However, we lack a mechanistic understanding of how above- and belowground detrital inputs affect soil C and N in mountain forests in an arid land. Here, we explored the effects of litter and root manipulations (control (CK), doubled litter input (DL), removal of litter (NL), root exclusion (NR), and a combination of litter removal and root exclusion (NI)) on soil C and N concentrations, enzyme activity and microbial biomass during a 2-year field experiment. We found that DL had no significant effect on soil total organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) but significantly increased soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC)

SUBMITTER: Zhu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7906406 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature