Simulated nitrogen deposition and precipitation events alter microbial carbon cycling during early stages of litter decomposition

Kroeger, Marie Elizabeth; Wang, Renée Z.; Suazo, Dennis Daniel; Yoshida, Thomas M.; Albright, Michaeline Burr Nelson; Dunbar, John Martin

doi:10.1093/sumbio/qvae031

Simulated nitrogen deposition and precipitation events alter microbial carbon cycling during early stages of litter decomposition

Journal Article · Thu Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2024 · Sustainable Microbiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/sumbio/qvae031· OSTI ID:2478640

^[1]; Wang, Renée Z. ^[2]; ^[3]; ^[4]; ^[5]; ^[4]

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); In-Pipe Technology, LLC, Wood Dale, IL (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Allonnia, LLC, Boston, MA (United States)

Plant litter decomposition is a major nutrient input to terrestrial ecosystems that is primarily driven by microorganisms. Litter quality is considered a key drive of decomposition; however, human-induced global disturbance like nitrogen deposition and increasing extreme precipitation events will shift nutrient availability during litter decomposition. Little is known about how shifting nutrient availability will impact dissolved organic matter concentrations and microbially driven carbon cycling that are critical to soil organic matter formation. This study investigated the effect of simulated nitrogen deposition and repeated precipitation events on microbially driven carbon flow during short-term litter decomposition using a ‘common garden’ experiment with microcosms containing sand and blue grama grass litter inoculated with different microbial communities. Overall, nitrogen deposition decoupled respiration and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by increasing respiration and not affecting DOC concentrations. Moreover, nitrogen deposition had no effect on microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE). Repeated simulated precipitation events significantly increased DOC concentrations, decreased microbial CUE, increased the microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2), and altered microbial composition and diversity. These findings highlight the complex interactions and responses of surface litter decomposers to shifting nutrient availability and contradicts previous findings that nitrogen deposition will increase soil carbon sequestration from a larger supply of DOC and reduced respiration.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 2478640

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--22-30063

Journal Information:: Sustainable Microbiology, Journal Name: Sustainable Microbiology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1; ISSN 2755-1970

Publisher:: Oxford University PressCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
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Simulated nitrogen deposition and precipitation events alter microbial carbon cycling during early stages of litter decomposition

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