Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chunhui Liu, Baorong Wang, Yuzhang Zhu, Tingting Qu, Zhijing Xue, Xiaoyun Li, Zhengchao Zhou, Shaoshan An
Summary: The relationships between soil eco-enzymatic stoichiometry and substrate stoichiometry in different stages of litter decomposition remain unclear. By analyzing the response of extracellular enzymatic stoichiometry to the imbalance between microbial and substrate stoichiometry, this study explores the microbial-mediated litter transformation and adaptation mechanisms in the transformation interface soil layer.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Quanchao Zeng, Zhe Chen, Wenfeng Tan
Summary: The study found that soil microbial communities in orchards are co-limited by C and P during litter decomposition, and the addition of alfalfa leaves plays a positive role in improving soil nutrients and regulating nutrient limitation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ziyang Peng, Yuntao Wu, Lulu Guo, Lu Yang, Bin Wang, Xin Wang, Weixing Liu, Yanjun Su, Jin Wu, Lingli Liu
Summary: Understanding how plants adapt to spatially heterogeneous phosphorus (P) supply is crucial for studying the impact of environmental changes on ecosystem productivity. The relative P limitation to plants was found to be higher in tropical forests than in temperate forests, but varied among species and within sites. Ecosystems develop a coupled aboveground-belowground strategy to maintain P supply and N : P stoichiometric balance under P-limitation.
Article
Agronomy
Yufei Yao, Fangwang Tang, Chengcheng Wang, Xiaorong Wei, Jinxi Song
Summary: This study investigated the microbial activity and resource limitation in soils of cropland, revegetated forest, and grassland in the hilly-gully region of the Loess Plateau, China. It was found that the microbial community in the revegetated forest was relatively carbon-limited compared to cropland, while phosphorus was the primary limiting factor in the revegetated forest at upslopes, and nitrogen was the limiting factor in the revegetated grassland and cropland. However, land-use change had no significant impact on microbial nitrogen/phosphorus limitations in the check dams.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian Zhou, Xiaoxia Han, Justin D. Brookes, Boqiang Qin
Summary: The study shows that as lakes become more eutrophic, the probability of both nitrogen and phosphorus co-limitation significantly increases, while phosphorus-only limitation decreases. The concentration of phosphorus, rather than nitrogen, plays a main role in affecting the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
J. L. Mora, A. Girona-Garcia, C. Marti-Dalmau, J. O. Ortiz-Perpina, C. M. Armas-Herrera, D. Badia-Villas
Summary: Prescribed burning in high-mountain soils can lead to significant losses of organic-C and N, as well as changes in nutrient availability. The composition of organic matter in the soil may change after burning, but a substantial portion remains largely unaffected by the fire.
Article
Soil Science
Wei Huang, Grizelle Gonzalez, Maria Fernanda Barberena-Arias, Xiaoming Zou
Summary: The study found that reduction in faunal diversity and increases in UV radiation can affect litter decomposition, with prescribed burn reducing soil arthropod diversity and increasing UV radiation to slow down plant litter decomposition.
BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Xuan Xu, Eleanor M. Slade, Penghe Cao, Yuchao Wang, Xiaoming Zou, Weifeng Wang, Honghua Ruan
Summary: Soil fauna play a crucial role in the decomposition of litter through both direct fragmentation and consumption of the litter, and indirect changes in soil structure and microbial activity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of soil fauna on nutrient release from litter. A two-year litter decomposition experiment was conducted in a poplar plantation in eastern China, using different mesh sizes of litterbags and chemical treatments. The results showed that soil fauna contributed to 29% of the mass loss of poplar leaf litter over the two-year period, with a more pronounced effect in the first four months. Soil macrofauna and meso-/micro- fauna had similar contributions to litter mass loss, while microbial decomposition had the highest contribution. The presence of soil fauna promoted the degradation of cellulose and lignin, and accelerated the release of nitrogen. The findings suggest that including soil fauna in decomposition models is essential for a better understanding of forest litter decomposition mechanisms.
Article
Soil Science
Jiwen Cui, Shuai Zhang, Xiya Wang, Xinpeng Xu, Chao Ai, Guoqing Liang, Ping Zhu, Wei Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different fertiliser practices on the limitation of soil microorganisms by elemental availability. The results showed that the soil microbial community as a whole was limited by the availability of carbon and phosphorus. Nitrogen fertiliser application significantly increased the limitation degree of phosphorus availability. Changes in microbial community structure may hinder the increase in soil organic matter. Microorganisms adjust their abundance of functional genes to absorb and retain insufficient phosphorus while accelerating the turnover of excess nitrogen.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiaobo Huang, Xuedong Lang, Shuaifeng Li, Wande Liu, Jianrong Su
Summary: This study analyzed the leaf chemical composition of 48 woody species in natural forests of Pinus yunnanensis. The results showed variations in stoichiometric characteristics across functional groups and tree types. Nitrogen was found to be the limiting factor for the distribution of P. yunnanensis forests, while the ecosystem showed relatively stable conditions based on leaf C:N and C:P ratios.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jianan Li, Ximei Niu, Ping Wang, Jingjing Yang, Jinwen Liu, Donghui Wu, Pingting Guan
Summary: Soil microorganisms obtain energy and nutrients by decomposing plant litter through soil extracellular enzymes. The type of litter is a critical factor that influences the activity of soil extracellular enzymes. However, it is still unclear how litter types modulate soil extracellular enzyme activity in different degraded grasslands.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ji Liu, Yi Wang, Yong Li, Josep Penuelas, Ying Zhao, Jordi Sardans, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Jian Liu, Xinliang Liu, Hongzhao Yuan, Yanyan Li, Ji Chen, Jinshui Wu
Summary: The ecological stoichiometry of soil and stream water relationships plays an important role in regulating stream water quality by influencing nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and ratios. A soil carbon to phosphorus ratio above 97.8 mol mol- 1 is required to achieve the desired regulation of stream water nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and control algal growth. Furthermore, the relationships between catchment landscape and soil ecological stoichiometry provide practical options for regulating soil ecological stoichiometry.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhenggang Du, Jiawei Wang, Guiyao Zhou, Shahla Hosseini Bai, Lingyan Zhou, Yuling Fu, Chuankuan Wang, Huiming Wang, Guirui Yu, Xuhui Zhou
Summary: This study used a TECO model framework and Bayesian approach to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on carbon (C) storage in subtropical forests. The results showed that P predominantly constrained C storage in one forest, while N limitation decreased C storage in another forest. The stoichiometry of wood biomass and soil microbe was found to be more sensitive indicators of N or P limitation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Meihua Liu, Bingping Gan, Quan Li, Wenfa Xiao, Xinzhang Song
Summary: Soil extracellular enzymes play a crucial role in soil nutrient cycling and microbial functions. This study investigated the effects of simulated nitrogen deposition and phosphorus addition on the activity and stoichiometry of soil extracellular enzymes in Chinese fir forests. The results showed that nitrogen addition had contrasting effects on different soil enzymes, while phosphorus addition aggravated carbon limitation. The combined addition of nitrogen and phosphorus significantly influenced soil extracellular enzyme activity and stoichiometry, indicating the importance of soil characteristics in microbial resource acquisition strategies. The findings provide valuable insights for the management of Chinese fir forests under increasing nitrogen deposition scenarios.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Stuart T. Schwab, G. Darrel Jenerette, Loralee Larios
Summary: Prescribed burning is commonly used to reduce non-native grass cover and seed availability, but its effectiveness in reducing non-native forbs remains unclear. Residual singed stands of invasive forbs can create high heterogeneity in postburn landscape and increase reinvasion. A field experiment in a prescribed burn area found that litter presence reduced temperature and light availability, while singed stands had lower soil moisture and temperature. The presence of litter increased Oncosiphon cover and viable seeds, and singed stands had even greater Oncosiphon cover and viable seeds. The addition of native seed did not affect native or Oncosiphon cover. These results highlight the importance of considering secondary treatments to reduce reinvasion when using prescribed burns for managing invasive forbs.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Ben Francis, Tyron Venn, Tom Lewis, Jeremy Brawner
Summary: There is uncertainty regarding the future availability of hardwood timber from state-owned native forests in southern Queensland. The timber industry is increasingly relying on private native forests, which have historically been harvested or cleared without proper management. This study compares traditional forest management practices with silvopastoral systems and finds that investing in silvopastoral systems can be financially attractive. However, long payback periods and sovereign risk hinder the adoption of these systems in southern Queensland.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiong Xiong, Tyler H. Tappenbeck, Chenxi Wu, James J. Elser
Summary: The study assessed the presence of microplastics in Flathead Lake and found that the concentrations were similar to other lakes in less populated areas worldwide. The research also suggested that precipitation might enhance the deposition of microplastics.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James J. Elser, Shawn P. Devlin, Jinlei Yu, Adam Baumann, Matthew J. Church, John E. Dore, Robert O. Hall, Melody Hollar, Tyler Johnson, Trista Vick-Majors, Cassidy White
Summary: This study examines the nutrient dynamics in Flathead Lake over a period of 38 years. Despite low nutrient levels, the lake maintained high nitrogen to phosphorus ratios. This stoichiometric imbalance led to phosphorus limitation in phytoplankton growth and affected the nutrient cycling in the entire ecosystem.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tin Phan, Changhan He, Irakli Loladze, Clay Prater, Jim Elser, Yang Kuang
Summary: Cells employ multiple strategies to maintain optimal protein production rate under different nutrient conditions. Mathematical models provide a theoretical foundation to explain these strategies and generate testable hypotheses. Studies show that strategies used under C and P limitations result in faster growth dynamics.
Article
Ecology
Orpheus M. Butler, Chen Ye, Quanfa Zhang
Summary: The establishment of the Three Gorges Dam in China has led to significant changes in riparian habitats, with terrestrial habitats being converted to riparian habitats. The abundance and composition of insect communities in the drawdown zone of the dam have undergone marked shifts since its establishment, potentially due to changes in hydrological conditions and climate.
Article
Ecology
Cecilia Laspoumaderes, Cedric L. Meunier, Amaru Magnin, Johanna Berlinghof, James J. Elser, Esteban Balseiro, Gabriela Torres, Beatriz Modenutti, Nelly Tremblay, Maarten Boersma
Summary: In this study, we analyzed the thermal response of phosphorus requirements in different aquatic invertebrate ectotherms. We found that these organisms share a non-linear cubic thermal response, with phosphorus requirements decreasing at low to intermediate temperatures, increasing at higher temperatures, and decreasing again at excessive temperatures. This common thermal response is of great importance for understanding and predicting the impact of global warming and nutrient-driven eutrophication on ectotherm communities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yantao Li, Rahat Shabir, Mehran Rezaei Rashti, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Chengrong Chen
Summary: This research explored the potential of four cow manure compost (CMC)-based products as a rhizobial carrier. The product with 50% gypsum showed better physicochemical characteristics and the highest strain survival rate in soil. This study demonstrated the great potential of CMC-based commercial products as alternative carrier materials for rapid commercial development of inoculants.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Grace H. H. Liang, Orpheus M. M. Butler, Charles R. R. Warren
Summary: Plants and soil microbes can reduce their phosphorus requirements by replacing phospholipids with non-phosphorus lipids in response to phosphorus deficiency. However, there have been few studies on this process in natural ecosystems, making it unclear whether this replacement occurs across soil phosphorus availability gradients.
Article
Agronomy
Charles R. Warren, Orpheus M. Butler
Summary: This study aims to explore the degradation process of leaf lipids, and finds that non-polymeric leaf lipids degrade quickly in soil, with a fraction of lipids likely persisting in degradation products and/or microbial biomass.
Article
Ecology
Orpheus M. Butler, Stefano Manzoni, Charles R. Warren
Summary: This study investigates the dynamics and drivers of three carbon storage compounds across a soil fertility gradient in eastern Australia. The results show that in infertile soils, the allocation of neutral lipid fatty acids and polyhydroxybutyrate is higher by 2-3 times compared to fertile soils. The allocation of neutral lipid fatty acids is positively correlated with fungal:bacterial ratios, while polyhydroxybutyrate allocation is positively correlated with belowground biological phosphorus demand.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mehran Rezaei Rashti, Jessica Hintz, Maryam Esfandbod, Mohammad Bahadori, Zhongming Lan, Chengrong Chen
Summary: Microplastics are a significant emerging contaminant in agroecosystems and have harmful effects on soil biological properties. The characteristics, fate, and risks of microplastics in biosolid-amended soils, particularly to earthworms, are not well understood. This study investigated the concentration, size distribution, and chemical composition of microplastics in sewage sludge biosolids and biosolid-amended agricultural soils. The results showed lower microplastic content in biosolid-amended soils compared to the investigated biosolids, with polyethylene as the major source. The application of biosolids decreased earthworms' survival rate and growth rate, but microplastic spiked treatments did not show significant differences compared to the control group.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad Bahadori, Chengrong Chen, Stephen Lewis, Juntao Wang, Jupei Shen, Enqing Hou, Mehran Rezaei Rashti, Qiaoyun Huang, Zoe Bainbridge, Tom Stevens
Summary: River run-off is considered to be a major source of organic-rich suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but the origin of this SPM remains uncertain. Through multiple lines of evidence, it has been found that a significant portion of the land-derived SPM is degraded in the mixing zones of rivers and estuaries before being transported offshore. The fingerprints of SPM in the marine environment are different from those of terrestrial origin and more consistent with those formed by marine phytoplankton. This suggests that the SPM in the GBR may be produced locally in the marine environment.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mehran Rezaei Rashti, Paul N. Nelson, Zhongming Lan, Ninghu Su, Maryam Esfandbod, Xiangyu Liu, Johnvie Goloran, Hanzhi Zhang, Chengrong Chen
Summary: The conversion of natural ecosystems to intensive agriculture such as sugarcane cultivation can significantly decrease soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus pools, leading to reduced microbial biomass and altered nitrogen cycling processes. This study found that long-term sugarcane cultivation in tropical Australia resulted in decreased soil health, reduced nitrogen availability, and impaired biochemical quality.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)