Soil Enzyme Activities and Microbial Carbon Pump Promote Carbon Storage by Influencing Bacterial Communities Under Nitrogen-Rich Conditions in Tea Plantation

Qi Shu, Shenghua Gao (), Xinmiao Liu, Zengwang Yao, Hailong Wu, Lianghua Qi and Xudong Zhang
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Qi Shu: Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Shenghua Gao: Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Xinmiao Liu: Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Zengwang Yao: College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China
Hailong Wu: Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Lianghua Qi: Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing 100102, China
Xudong Zhang: Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: Carbon–nitrogen (C-N) coupling is a fundamental concept in ecosystem ecology. Long-term excessive fertilization in tea plantations has caused soil C-N imbalance, leading to ecological issues. Understanding soil C-N coupling under nitrogen loading is essential for sustainable management, yet the mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined C-N coupling in tea plantation soils under five fertilization regimes: no fertilization, chemical fertilizer, chemical + organic cake fertilizer, chemical + microbial fertilizer, and chemical + biochar. Fertilization mainly increased particulate organic carbon (POC) and inorganic nitrogen, driven by changes in bacterial community composition and function. Mixed fertilization treatments enhanced the association between bacterial communities and soil properties, increasing ecological complexity without altering overall trends. Fungal communities had a minor influence on soil C-N dynamics. Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) and microbial carbon pump (MCP) efficacy, representing long-term carbon storage potential, showed minimal responses to short-term fertilization. However, the microbial necromass accumulation coefficient (NAC) was nitrogen-sensitive, indicating short-term responses. PLS-PM analysis revealed consistent C-N coupling across the treatments, where soil nitrogen influenced carbon through enzyme activity and MCP, while bacterial communities directly affected carbon storage. These findings provide insights for precise soil C-N management and sustainable tea plantation practices under climate change.

Keywords: fertilization; carbon–nitrogen coupling; microbial communities; microbial necromass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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