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Effect of N addition on root exudation and associated microbial N transformation under Sibiraea angustata in an alpine shrubland

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Abstract

Background and aim

Root exudates are generally known to play an important role in ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. We aimed to quantify the responses of root exudates to increased N availability in an alpine shrub-dominated ecosystem, and unravel the associated ecological consequences to N cycling.

Methods

After three consecutive years of N addition at three rates (N0, control; N5, 5 g N m−2 year−1; N10, 10 g N m−2 year−1), we measured in situ rate of root exudation for mature Sibiraea angustata shrubs, as well as soil microbial biomass, the activities of three extracellular enzymes, and net N mineralization rates (Nmin) in both rhizosphere and bulk soil.

Results

Exudation rates were 13% and 45% lower in the N5 and N10 plots compared to the control plots over the primary growing season. This, together with decreasing fine root biomass and length, lead to an annual decline of 44% and 66% in root exudate C inputs to soil, respectively. These decreased exudation rates were both directly and indirectly, through its effect on the rhizosphere effect (RE) on polyphenol oxidase activity, linked to decreased the RE on Nmin. As a result of N-induced decreases in both the RE on Nmin and rhizosphere volume, we estimated that the ecosystem-level rhizosphere effect for Nmin from 13% in the control plots to 8% in the N5 plots, and to 2% in the N10 plots.

Conclusions

Overall, our results demonstrate that N addition may decelerate the C efflux from root exudates, resulting in a slower decomposition of soil organic matter and also gradually decelerating soil N cycling in alpine shrub ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported jointly by the Science and Technology Basic Work of Science and Technology (2015FY110300), Frontier Science Key Research Programs of CAS (QYZDB-SSW-SMC023), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31872700, 31670449, 31270552 and 31960271). RL was supported by the Academy of Finland grant 289116.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, China

    Wei He, Juan Xiao & Huajun Yin

  2. Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9 section 4, South Renmin Road, P.O. Box 416, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Wei He, Qing Liu & Huajun Yin

  3. Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Wei He

  4. College of Eco-environmental Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, 550025, China

    Yuanshuang Yuan

  5. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Ziliang Zhang

  6. Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), 00790, Helsinki, Finland

    Raija Laiho

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  1. Wei He
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  2. Yuanshuang Yuan
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He, W., Yuan, Y., Zhang, Z. et al. Effect of N addition on root exudation and associated microbial N transformation under Sibiraea angustata in an alpine shrubland. Plant Soil 460, 469–481 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04753-4

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