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Background and aims <p>Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) is a vital parameter driver to SOC sequester. Mixed plantations are increasingly acknowledged for their potential to enhance forest biodiversity and soil carbon sequestration through complementary litter traits, diverse root exudates, and altered microbial nutrient acquisition strategies compared with monocultures. However, how mixed plantations regulate MNC accumulation through microbial nutrient limitation remains poorly understood, creating uncertainty in predicting soil carbon sequestration potential in forest ecosystems.</p> Methods <p>We explored the influence of 30-year-old monoculture coniferous plantations (<i>larch</i>), broadleaf plantations (<i>white birch</i>) and mixed coniferous- broadleaf plantations on microbial necromass carbon composition and its contributions to SOC at two soil depth (0–20&#xa0;cm and 20–40&#xa0;cm).</p> Results <p>Our results showed that mixed plantations had higher MNC than single coniferous plantations (+ 30.9%), but lower than single broadleaf plantations at topsoil (-12.7%). Although mixed plantations showed a significantly lower fungal and higher bacterial contribution to MNC than monocultures in the subsoil, the total contribution of MNC to SOC remained unchanged. Additionally, microbial carbon (1.28 ± 0.07) and phosphorus (51.71 ± 0.41) limitation is prevalent in mixed forest soil, mixed plantations can alleviate microbial carbon limitation but aggravate the phosphorus limitation compared to monocultures. Path analysis revealed that the alleviation of microbial carbon limitation coupled with increased phosphorus limitation in mixed plantations may influence microbial metabolic efficiency and turnover processes, thereby affecting MNC accumulation patterns.</p> Conclusion <p>Overall, coniferous-broadleaf mixed plantations (<i>larch- birch)</i> significantly altered MNC but did not necessarily alter the contribution of MNC to SOC. Mixed plantations-driven microbial nutrient limitation regulate microbial necromass C accumulation patterns.</p>

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Shifts in microbial nutrient limitation drive microbial necromass carbon accumulation in mixed temperate plantations

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月23日

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  • Guohua Rong,
  • Fan Du,
  • Ying Zhang,
  • Yaqi Dong,
  • Hongyu Wu

摘要

Background and aims

Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) is a vital parameter driver to SOC sequester. Mixed plantations are increasingly acknowledged for their potential to enhance forest biodiversity and soil carbon sequestration through complementary litter traits, diverse root exudates, and altered microbial nutrient acquisition strategies compared with monocultures. However, how mixed plantations regulate MNC accumulation through microbial nutrient limitation remains poorly understood, creating uncertainty in predicting soil carbon sequestration potential in forest ecosystems.

Methods

We explored the influence of 30-year-old monoculture coniferous plantations (larch), broadleaf plantations (white birch) and mixed coniferous- broadleaf plantations on microbial necromass carbon composition and its contributions to SOC at two soil depth (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm).

Results

Our results showed that mixed plantations had higher MNC than single coniferous plantations (+ 30.9%), but lower than single broadleaf plantations at topsoil (-12.7%). Although mixed plantations showed a significantly lower fungal and higher bacterial contribution to MNC than monocultures in the subsoil, the total contribution of MNC to SOC remained unchanged. Additionally, microbial carbon (1.28 ± 0.07) and phosphorus (51.71 ± 0.41) limitation is prevalent in mixed forest soil, mixed plantations can alleviate microbial carbon limitation but aggravate the phosphorus limitation compared to monocultures. Path analysis revealed that the alleviation of microbial carbon limitation coupled with increased phosphorus limitation in mixed plantations may influence microbial metabolic efficiency and turnover processes, thereby affecting MNC accumulation patterns.

Conclusion

Overall, coniferous-broadleaf mixed plantations (larch- birch) significantly altered MNC but did not necessarily alter the contribution of MNC to SOC. Mixed plantations-driven microbial nutrient limitation regulate microbial necromass C accumulation patterns.