Simple measurements in a complex system: soil community responses to nitrogen amendment in a Pinus taeda forest

Kuske, Cheryl R.; Sinsabaugh, Robert L.; Gallegos‐Graves, La Verne; Albright, Michaeline B. N.; Mueller, Rebecca; Dunbar, John

doi:10.1002/ecs2.2687

Title: Simple measurements in a complex system: soil community responses to nitrogen amendment in a Pinus taeda forest

Journal Article · Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Ecosphere

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2687· OSTI ID:1505642

Kuske, Cheryl R. ^[1]; Sinsabaugh, Robert L. ^[2]; Gallegos‐Graves, La Verne ^[1];

^[1]; Mueller, Rebecca ^[1]; Dunbar, John ^[1]

Bioscience Division Los Alamos National Laboratory M888 Los Alamos New Mexico USA
Biology Department University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico USA

Abstract Microorganisms regulate the decomposition of soil organic matter and the flow of plant‐available nutrients. In a temperate pine forest in North Carolina, USA , where nitrogen (N) had been experimentally added for eight years, we combined DNA ‐based measures of fungal and bacterial biomass and composition with measures of seven extracellular enzymes (ecoenzymes). These measures were then correlated with soil chemistry. Our goals were to evaluate the relative sensitivity and repeatability of multiple structural and functional measures of community organization to long‐term N deposition. Measurements were conducted at three litter/soil depths, corresponding to the litter, Oa, and mineral A horizons (max depth 10 cm) with ten spatial replicates per experimental plot. Soil chemistry differed significantly with soil depth and N amendment. Total biomass (soil DNA ), as well as fungal and bacterial biomass (measured by qPCR ), was greatest in the litter horizon and declined significantly with depth. Ecoenzyme activity patterns also changed with soil depth, transitioning from high levels of C, N, and P metabolizing activities in the litter horizon to increased oxidative activities at the lower depth. Under N amendment, soil pH decreased and nitrate concentrations increased in all three soil horizons. Correspondingly, the estimated microbial C use efficiency decreased in N‐amended soils at all depths, despite differences in microbial biomass, community composition, and soil chemistry. Overall, bacterial composition was most responsive to nitrogen amendment, but the taxonomic context of the response varied with soil horizons in conjunction with shifts in soil chemistry and enzyme activities. While a single measure that would incorporate all of the C, N, and P metabolizing activities did not emerge, many measures correlated with each other, and/or with depth and/or N amendment.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1505642

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1505643; OSTI ID: 1525839

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-18-23932; e02687

Journal Information:: Ecosphere, Journal Name: Ecosphere Vol. 10 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 2150-8925

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Biological Science
carbon use efficiency
extracellular ecoenzymes
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ribosomal RNA genes
soil bacterial community
soil carbon cycling
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soil microbiome
temperate pine forest

Title: Simple measurements in a complex system: soil community responses to nitrogen amendment in a Pinus taeda forest

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