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Purpose <p>Elucidating the distinct contributions of plant and microbial residue carbon (PRC and MRC) across different typical forest types and at different elevations is essential for accurately assessing regional forest carbon sequestration potential.</p> Methods <p>Soil samples were collected in an evergreen <i>Pinus densiflora</i> forest and a deciduous <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> forest at two elevations (ca. 170&#xa0;m and 350&#xa0;m a.s.l.) on Kunyu Mountain, China. Biomarker analysis (plant- and microbial-specific compounds), phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling, extracellular enzyme assays, and soil physicochemical characterization were employed in this study. Pearson correlation analysis and random forest models were used to identify key drivers of variations in PRC and MRC.</p> Results <p>Soil organic carbon (SOC) and residual carbon pools were significantly increased by forest type (<i>S. alnifolia</i> &gt; <i>P. densiflora</i>), elevation (350&#xa0;m &gt; 170&#xa0;m), and soil depth (0–15&#xa0;cm &gt; 15–30&#xa0;cm), with no interactive effects among these factors. Elevation exerted contrasting effects on bacterial and fungal residue carbon (FRC): bacterial residue carbon (BRC) was higher at low elevations (170&#xa0;m &gt; 350&#xa0;m, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), while FRC showed the opposite pattern (350&#xa0;m &gt; 170&#xa0;m, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Notably, in the surface soil at 350&#xa0;m, <i>S. alnifolia</i> exceeded <i>P. densiflora</i> by 58% (SOC), 65% (plant residue), and 106–115% (microbial residue) (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Surface soil residue carbon variation was dominated by soil properties, whereas subsoil residue carbon was more strongly influenced by soil properties combined with PLFA and enzyme activities.</p> Conclusion <p>Forest type and elevation are critical controllers of SOC concentrations on Kunyu Mountain, and soil depth (0–15&#xa0;cm &gt; 15–30&#xa0;cm) also significantly increased SOC and residue carbon pools, with distinct driving factors between layers. Targeted forest diversification could significantly increase regional SOC storage and sink capacity. The lack of interactive effects between forest type and elevation may be attributed to the narrow elevation range and limited environmental heterogeneity among sites.</p>

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Effects of forest type and elevation on plant and microbial residue carbon concentrations on Kunyu Mountain, China

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

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  • Wei Zhu,
  • Shiguo Gu,
  • Jinyuan Wang,
  • Tingting Mu,
  • Yanyan Ni,
  • Jun Gao,
  • Mai-He Li

摘要

Purpose

Elucidating the distinct contributions of plant and microbial residue carbon (PRC and MRC) across different typical forest types and at different elevations is essential for accurately assessing regional forest carbon sequestration potential.

Methods

Soil samples were collected in an evergreen Pinus densiflora forest and a deciduous Sorbus alnifolia forest at two elevations (ca. 170 m and 350 m a.s.l.) on Kunyu Mountain, China. Biomarker analysis (plant- and microbial-specific compounds), phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling, extracellular enzyme assays, and soil physicochemical characterization were employed in this study. Pearson correlation analysis and random forest models were used to identify key drivers of variations in PRC and MRC.

Results

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and residual carbon pools were significantly increased by forest type (S. alnifolia > P. densiflora), elevation (350 m > 170 m), and soil depth (0–15 cm > 15–30 cm), with no interactive effects among these factors. Elevation exerted contrasting effects on bacterial and fungal residue carbon (FRC): bacterial residue carbon (BRC) was higher at low elevations (170 m > 350 m, p < 0.05), while FRC showed the opposite pattern (350 m > 170 m, p < 0.05). Notably, in the surface soil at 350 m, S. alnifolia exceeded P. densiflora by 58% (SOC), 65% (plant residue), and 106–115% (microbial residue) (p < 0.05). Surface soil residue carbon variation was dominated by soil properties, whereas subsoil residue carbon was more strongly influenced by soil properties combined with PLFA and enzyme activities.

Conclusion

Forest type and elevation are critical controllers of SOC concentrations on Kunyu Mountain, and soil depth (0–15 cm > 15–30 cm) also significantly increased SOC and residue carbon pools, with distinct driving factors between layers. Targeted forest diversification could significantly increase regional SOC storage and sink capacity. The lack of interactive effects between forest type and elevation may be attributed to the narrow elevation range and limited environmental heterogeneity among sites.