Advances in stoichiometric regulation mechanisms of microbial life strategies on priming effects and soil carbon balance

Exogenous carbon and nutrient inputs can affect microbial growth and induce soil carbon mineralization-inspired effects, which in turn stimulate the formation and mineralization of soil organic carbon

To this end, Wu Jinshui's research team from the Institute of Subtropical Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences added low (50% soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC)) and high (500% soil MBC) ¹³ C markers to flooded paddy soils and 5 N, P and S fertilizer addition gradients (NPS nutrient gradients) were set up respectively, and different C, N, P and S stoichiometric ratio gradients were constructed, and the SOC was observed during the 60-day culture period The dynamic changes of cumulative excitation effect, soil net carbon balance index, soil enzyme activity, combined with ¹³ C-PLFA technology, explored the potential strategies and response mechanisms of microbial regulation of soil organic carbon mineralization and organic carbon accumulation in flooded paddy fields

The study was recently published in the journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry under the title Stoichiometric regulation of priming effects and soil carbon balance by microbial life strategies

Paper link

Figure 1 Conceptual diagram of the stoichiometric regulation mechanism of microbial life strategies on the priming effect and soil carbon balance