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Soil [N] modulates soil C cycling in CO 2 ‐fumigated tree stands: a meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
DIELEMAN W. I. J.,
LUYSSAERT S.,
REY A.,
DE ANGELIS P.,
BARTON C. V. M.,
BROADMEADOW M. S. J.,
BROADMEADOW S. B.,
CHIGWEREWE K. S.,
CROOKSHANKS M.,
DUFRÊNE E.,
JARVIS P. G.,
KASURINEN A.,
KELLOMÄKI S.,
LE DANTEC V.,
LIBERLOO M.,
MAREK M.,
MEDLYN B.,
POKORNÝ R.,
SCARASCIAMUGNOZZA G.,
TEMPERTON V. M.,
TINGEY D.,
URBAN O.,
CEULEMANS R.,
JANSSENS I. A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02201.x
Subject(s) - cycling , soil respiration , soil carbon , chemistry , fumigation , biomass (ecology) , nitrogen , environmental chemistry , agronomy , mineralization (soil science) , carbon cycle , soil water , environmental science , soil science , ecosystem , ecology , biology , forestry , organic chemistry , geography
Under elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, soil carbon (C) inputs are typically enhanced, suggesting larger soil C sequestration potential. However, soil C losses also increase and progressive nitrogen (N) limitation to plant growth may reduce the CO 2 effect on soil C inputs with time. We compiled a data set from 131 manipulation experiments, and used meta‐analysis to test the hypotheses that: (1) elevated atmospheric CO 2 stimulates soil C inputs more than C losses, resulting in increasing soil C stocks; and (2) that these responses are modulated by N. Our results confirm that elevated CO 2 induces a C allocation shift towards below‐ground biomass compartments. However, the increased soil C inputs were offset by increased heterotrophic respiration (Rh), such that soil C content was not affected by elevated CO 2 . Soil N concentration strongly interacted with CO 2 fumigation: the effect of elevated CO 2 on fine root biomass and –production and on microbial activity increased with increasing soil N concentration, while the effect on soil C content decreased with increasing soil N concentration. These results suggest that both plant growth and microbial activity responses to elevated CO 2 are modulated by N availability, and that it is essential to account for soil N concentration in C cycling analyses.