Parallel patterns of microbial carbon and nitrogen use efficiency in response to nitrogen addition across soil depths in a Castanopsis faberi forest

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtaf183

J Plant Ecol ›› 2026, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (2): rtaf183.DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtaf183

Parallel patterns of microbial carbon and nitrogen use efficiency in response to nitrogen addition across soil depths in a Castanopsis faberi forest

Yaping Lin^1,2,3, Qiufang Zhang^1,2,3*, Hao Sun^1,2,3, Jiaohong Lu^1,2,3, Zehong Yao^1,2,3, Quanxin Zeng^1,4, Chenxing Lian^1,2,3, Huizhi Pi^1,2,3, Xiaochun Yuan⁵, Yuehmin Chen^1,2,3*

¹Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China, ²Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China, ³Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Resources and Environment, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China,⁴State Key Laboratory of Vegetation Structure, Function and Construction (VegLab), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China, ⁵College of Tourism, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, China

^*Corresponding authors. E-mail: qiufangzh@fjnu.edu.cn (Q.Z.); ymchen@fjnu.edu.cn (Y.C.)

Received:2025-08-22 Accepted:2025-10-30 Online:2025-10-30 Published:2026-04-01
Supported by:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32471684 and 32371846), the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (2024J01466 and 2023R1002002)

罗浮栲林不同土层微生物碳氮利用效率对氮添加的趋同响应

Abstract

Abstract: Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) are key parameters that determine the fate of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soils. However, the responses of microbial CUE and NUE to N deposition across soil depths remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted an N-addition experiment in a Castanopsis faberi forest. Soil samples were collected from the topsoil (0–10 cm) and subsoil (20–30 cm) under three N addition levels to investigate depth-specific responses of microbial CUE and NUE. Changes in soil C fractions, microbial biomass, enzyme activities, and microbial community composition were assessed. Results showed a significant positive correlation between CUE and NUE, indicating a closed relationship between microbial C and N metabolism. Nitrogen addition reduced CUE and NUE at both depths, though the negative effects were less pronounced in the subsoil. Nitrogen addition significantly altered soil C fractions: labile C and particulate organic C increased in the topsoil, whereas mineral-associated organic C and recalcitrant C decreased in the subsoil. Microbial CUE and NUE were significantly correlated with the quantity of soil C fractions. Compared to the topsoil, the subsoil had lower CUE, NUE and dissolved organic C content but a higher C/N ratio, suggesting that differences in CUE and NUE between soil depths are regulated by both the quantity and quality of soil C. These findings reveal a depth-dependent yet directionally consistent effect of N addition on microbial resource-use efficiency, offering new insights into C–N coupling processes in forest ecosystems.

This study investigated the changes in soil microbial carbon use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency across different soil layers of Castanopsis faberi forests under various nitrogen addition gradients. By integrating data on soil carbon fractions, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure, it revealed a depth-dependent yet consistently inhibitory response of microbial resource use efficiency to nitrogen addition, providing new experimental evidence for a understanding of the coupling mechanisms of carbon and nitrogen cycling in forest ecosystems.

Key words: nitrogen deposition, microbial growth, microbial mineralization, soil depth, carbon fractions

摘要：
微生物碳/氮利用效率(分别用CUE和NUE表示)是调控土壤碳(C)和氮(N)循环过程的关键参数。然而，目前学术界尚不清楚不同土层中微生物CUE和NUE对氮添加的响应是否存在差异。本研究基于罗浮栲(Castanopsis faberi)林氮添加控制实验，测定表层(0–10 cm)和亚表层土壤(20–30 cm)微生物CUE和NUE，以及土壤碳组分、微生物生物量、酶活性及微生物群落组成等指标，旨在揭示不同土层微生物CUE和NUE对氮添加的响应差异及其调控因素。结果显示：1)微生物CUE与NUE呈显著正相关关系，表明微生物碳氮代谢过程紧密耦合。氮添加同时降低了表层和亚表层土壤微生物CUE和NUE，但在亚表层土壤中氮的抑制效应较弱。2)在表层土壤中，氮添加增加了易降解碳和颗粒态有机碳含量；而在亚表层土壤中，氮添加降低了矿物结合态有机碳和难降解碳含量。微生物CUE和NUE与不同碳组分数量显著相关。3)与表层相比，亚表层土壤CUE、NUE和可溶性有机碳含量较低，但C/N比较高，表明不同土层CUE和NUE的差异同时受碳数量和质量的调控。本研究揭示了氮添加对微生物资源利用效率产生抑制效应，且该效应因土层深度而异，这一发现为深入理解森林生态系统碳-氮交互作用提供了新见解。

关键词: 氮沉降, 微生物生长, 微生物矿化, 土壤深度, 碳组分

Yaping Lin, Qiufang Zhang, Hao Sun, Jiaohong Lu, Zehong Yao, Quanxin Zeng, Chenxing Lian, Huizhi Pi, Xiaochun Yuan, Yuehmin Chen. Parallel patterns of microbial carbon and nitrogen use efficiency in response to nitrogen addition across soil depths in a Castanopsis faberi forest[J]. J Plant Ecol, 2026, 19(2): 1-.

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Parallel patterns of microbial carbon and nitrogen use efficiency in response to nitrogen addition across soil depths in a Castanopsis faberi forest

罗浮栲林不同土层微生物碳氮利用效率对氮添加的趋同响应

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