Effects of drought on the soil microbial biomass C, N, P ecological stoichiometric characteristics of poplar plantation

doi:10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202311030

JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (3): 33-40.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202311030

Previous Articles Next Articles

Effects of drought on the soil microbial biomass C, N, P ecological stoichiometric characteristics of poplar plantation

ZHAO Ziwei¹(), RUAN Honghua¹^,^*(), YANG Yan², XIE Youchao², SHEN Caiqin³, XU Yaming³, CAO Guohua³

1. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Ecology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University,Nanjing 210037,China
2. Forestry Bureau of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210036, China
3. Dongtai State Forest Farm of Jiangsu Province, Yancheng, 224243, China

Received:2023-11-22 Accepted:2024-03-26 Online:2025-05-30 Published:2025-05-27
Contact: RUAN Honghua E-mail:z1442527446@163.com;hhruan@njfu.edu.cn

Abstract

Abstract:

【Objective】This study aimed to reveal the effects of drought on soil microbial biomass carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), as well as their ecological stoichiometric characteristics in poplar plantations. We also aimed to understand the soil C, N, and P biogeochemical cycles in poplar plantations under a future global drought scenario and provide a theoretical basis for the rational management of these plantations.【Method】Soil microbial biomass C (MBC), N (MBN) and P (MBP), along with their ecological stoichiometric characteristics (i.e., MBC/MBN, MBC/MBP, and MBN/MBP), and soil physicochemical properties, were examined in a poplar plantation (Populus deltoides) at Dongtai Forest Farm, Jiangsu Province, China. Three treatments were established in this study, control (CK), 30% throughfall reduction (D1), and 50% throughfall reduction (D2).【Result】(1) Soil MBC, MBN, and MBP were significantly reduced under drought conditions compared to the control, with reductions of 16.09%, 22.60%, and 32.49%, respectively, for the D2 treatment. Both MBC/MBN and MBC/MBP were significantly increased under drought conditions, with increases of 10.33% and 25.15%, respectively, in the D2 treatment, while soil MBN/MBP ratios did not change significantly. (2) Soil MBC, MBN and MBP showed significant seasonal variations, ranging from 344.67 to 500.12 mg/kg, 45.21 to 63.22 mg/kg, and 15.33 to 23.48 mg/kg, respectively. MBC, MBN, and MBP contents were lower in summer and fall than in winter and spring. In contrast, seasonal variations in MBC/MBN and MBC/MBP showed opposite trends to those of MBC, MBN, and MBP, while seasonal variations in MBN/MBP were not significant. (3) Compared with the control, drought treatments significantly reduced $\mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}-\mathrm{N}$, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), available phosphorus (AP), and soil water content (SWC) by 68.81%, 32.77%, 29.87%, and 11.05%, respectively. Drought treatments increased soil pH and $\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$ content by 1.51% and 194.34%, respectively. Correlation analyses showed that soil MBC, MBN, and MBP had highly significant positive correlations with SWC and total nitrogen (TN) and significant or highly significant negative correlations with SOC, $\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$ content, and the total carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N). Soil MBC/MBN, MBC/MBP, and MBN/MBP showed significantly or highly significant positive correlations with $\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$ and C/N and significant or highly significant negative correlations with SWC and TN content.【Conclusion】Drought significantly affected soil microbial C, N, and P and their ecological stoichiometric characteristics in poplar plantations, potentially altering the soil nutrient balance and cycling in these plantations.

Key words: soil microbes, drought, ecological stoichiometric characteristics, popular plantation, seasonal variation

CLC Number:

S714.2

ZHAO Ziwei, RUAN Honghua, YANG Yan, XIE Youchao, SHEN Caiqin, XU Yaming, CAO Guohua. Effects of drought on the soil microbial biomass C, N, P ecological stoichiometric characteristics of poplar plantation[J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2025, 49(3): 33-40.

Figures/Tables 4

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Table 1

Table 2

References 31

[1]	LEE J Y, MAROTZKE J, BALA G, et al. IPCC (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).Climate change 2021:the physical science basis. Future global climate:scenario-based projections and near-term information[M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,2021: 553-672. DOI: 10.1017/9781009157896.006.
[2]	朴世龙, 张新平, 陈安平, 等. 极端气候事件对陆地生态系统碳循环的影响[J]. 中国科学:地球科学, 2019, 49(9):1321-1334.
	PIAO S L, ZHANG X P, CHEN A P, et al. The impacts of climate extremes on the terrestrial carbon cycle:a review[J]. Scientia Sinica (Terrae), 2019, 49(9):1321-1334.
[3]	KNAPP A K, HOOVER D L, WILCOX K R, et al. Characterizing differences in precipitation regimes of extreme wet and dry years:implications for climate change experiments[J]. Global Change Biology, 2015, 21(7):2624-2633.DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12888.
[4]	WELTZIN J F, LOIK M E, SCHWINNING S, et al. Assessing the response of terrestrial ecosystems to potential changes in precipitation[J]. BioScience,2003, 53(10):941-952.DOI: 10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0941:ATROTE]2.0.CO;2.
[5]	姚庭玉, 陈小梅, 何俊杰, 等. 模拟干旱对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征的影响[J]. 西南林业大学学报, 2017, 37(1):104-109.
	YAO T Y, CHEN X M, HE J J, et al. Effects of drought on the C/N/P stoichiometry in the soil of a subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest[J]. Journal of Southwest Forestry University, 2017, 37(1):104-109.DOI: 10.11929/j.issn.2095-1914.2017.01.017.
[6]	GIMBEL K F, FELSMANN K, BAUDIS M, et al. Drought in forest understory ecosystems-a novel rainfall reduction experiment[J]. Biogeosciences, 2015, 12(4):961-975.DOI: 10.5194/bg-12-961-2015.
[7]	SUN Y, CHEN H Y H, JIN L, et al. Drought stress induced increase of fungi:bacteria ratio in a poplar plantation[J]. CATENA, 2020,193:104607.DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104607.
[8]	许华, 何明珠, 唐亮, 等. 荒漠土壤微生物量碳、氮变化对降水的响应[J]. 生态学报, 2020, 40(4):1295-1304.
	XU H, HE M Z, TANG L, et al. Response of changes of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen to precipitation in desert soil[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2020, 40(4):1295-1304.DOI: 10.5846/stxb201901020014.
[9]	许淼平, 任成杰, 张伟, 等. 土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷与土壤酶化学计量对气候变化的响应机制[J]. 应用生态学报, 2018, 29(7):2445-2454.
	XU M P, REN C J, ZHANG W, et al. Responses mechanism of C∶N∶P stoichiometry of soil microbial biomass and soil enzymes to climate change[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018, 29(7):2445-2454.DOI: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.201807.041.
[10]	李品, 木勒德尔·吐尔汗拜, 田地, 等. 全球森林土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷化学计量的季节动态[J]. 植物生态学报, 2019, 43(6):532-542.
	LI P, Muledeer Tuerhanbai, TIAN D, et al. Seasonal dynamics of soil microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across global forest ecosystems[J]. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2019, 43(6):532-542.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2019.0075.
[11]	李帅军, 郭剑芬, 吴东梅, 等. 隔离降雨对米槠天然林土壤微生物生物量和酶活性的影响[J]. 亚热带资源与环境学报, 2018, 13(1):17-25.
	LI S J, GUO J F, WU D M, et al. Effects of throughfall exclusion on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a natural Castanopsis carlesii forest in subtropical China[J]. Journal of Subtropical Resources and Environment, 2018, 13(1):17-25.DOI: 10.19687/j.cnki.1673-7105.2018.01.003.
[12]	WAN X H, CHEN X L, HUANG Z Q, et al. Global soil microbial biomass decreases with aridity and land-use intensification[J]. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2021, 30(5):1056-1069.DOI: 10.1111/geb.13282.
[13]	HESSEN D O, ELSER J J. Elements of ecology and evolution[J]. Oikos, 2005, 109(1):3-5.DOI: 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2005.14055.x.
[14]	王绍强, 于贵瑞. 生态系统碳氮磷元素的生态化学计量学特征[J]. 生态学报, 2008, 28(8):3937-3947.
	WANG S Q, YU G R. Ecological stoichiometry characteristics of ecosystem carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus elements[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2008, 28(8):3937-3947.DOI: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-0933.2008.08.054.
[15]	ANDERSON T R, BOERSMA M, RAUBENHEIMER D. Stoichiometry:linking elements to biochemicals[J]. Ecology, 2004, 85(5):1193-1202.DOI: 10.1890/02-0252.
[16]	哈斯其美格, 杨嘉琪, 汪珊珊, 等. 土壤微生物生物量的生态化学计量特征[J]. 甘肃科技纵横, 2022, 51(1):12-14,19.
	Haschinegger, YANG J Q, WANG S S, et al. Ecological stoichiometry of soil microbial biomass[J]. Scientific & Technical Information of Gansu, 2022, 51(1):12-14,19.
[17]	朱湾湾, 许艺馨, 王攀, 等. 降水量及N添加对荒漠草原植物和土壤微生物C∶N∶P生态化学计量特征的影响[J]. 西北植物学报, 2020, 40(4):676-687.
	ZHU W W, XU Y X, WANG P, et al. Effects of precipitation and N addition on plant and microbial C∶N∶P ecological stoichiometry in a desert steppe of northwestern China[J]. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 2020, 40(4):676-687.
[18]	CHEN L Y, GAO Y H. Global climate change effects on soil microbial biomass stoichiometry in alpine ecosystems[J]. Land, 2022, 11(10):1661.DOI: 10.3390/land11101661.
[19]	王凯, 邢仕奇, 张日升, 等. 科尔沁沙地杨树人工林植物-土壤C、N、P化学计量变化[J]. 生态学杂志, 2024, 43(1):162-169.
	WANG K, XING S Q, ZHANG R S, et al. Changes in C,N,and P stoichiometry of soil and plant of poplar plantations in Horqin sandy land[J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2024, 43(1):162-169.DOI: 10.13292/j.1000-4890.202401.023.
[20]	MAO Y, WU Z Y, HE H, et al. Spatio-temporal analysis of drought in a typical plain region based on the soil moisture anomaly percentage index[J]. Science of The Total Environment, 2017, 576:752-765.DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.116.
[21]	鲍士旦. 土壤农化分析[M]. 3版. 北京: 中国农业出版社,2000:1-51.
	BAO S D. Soil and agricultural chemistry analysis[M]. 3rd ed. Beijing: China Agriculture Press,2000:1-51.
[22]	王国兵, 王瑞, 徐瑾, 等. 生物炭对杨树人工林土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷及其化学计量特征的影响[J]. 南京林业大学学报(自然科学版), 2019, 43(2):1-6.
	WANG G B, WANG R, XU J, et al. Effects of biochar application on microbial biomass C,N,P and stoichiometry characteristics of poplar plantation soil[J]. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition), 2019, 43(2):1-6.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201803022.
[23]	吴金水, 林启美, 黄巧云, 等. 土壤微生物生物量测定方法及其应用[M]. 北京: 气象出版社,2006:79-84.
	WU J S, LIN Q M, HUANG Q Y, et al. Determination method of soil microbial biomass and its application[M]. Beijing: China Meteorological Press,2006:79-84.
[24]	黄菊莹, 余海龙, 刘吉利, 等. 控雨对荒漠草原植物、微生物和土壤C、N、P化学计量特征的影响[J]. 生态学报, 2018, 38(15):5362-5373.
	HUANG J Y, YU H L, LIU J L, et al. Effects of precipitation levels on the C:N:P stoichiometry in plants,microbes,and soils in a desert steppe in China[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2018, 38(15):5362-5373.
[25]	LIU Y W, ZOU X M, CHEN H Y H, et al. Fungal necromass is reduced by intensive drought in subsoil but not in topsoil[J]. Global Change Biology, 2023, 29(24):7159-7172.DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16978.
[26]	许艺馨, 余海龙, 李春环, 等. 模拟降水量变化对荒漠草原土壤酶活性的影响及其相关因素分析[J]. 西北植物学报, 2021, 41(11):1912-1923.
	XU Y X, YU H L, LI C H, et al. Effects of simulated precipitation on soil enzyme activities in a desert steppe of northwest China and their related influencing factors[J]. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 2021, 41(11):1912-1923.DOI: 10.7606/j.issn.1000-4025.2021.11.1912.
[27]	BROOKES P, OCIO J, WU J S. The soil microbial biomass: its measurement, properties and role in soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics following substrate incorporation[J]. Soil Microorganisms, 1990, 35:39-51. DOI: 10.18946/jssm.35.0_39.
[28]	GARCIA F O, RICE C W. Microbial biomass dynamics in tallgrass prairie[J]. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1994, 58(3):816-823.DOI: 10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800030026x.
[29]	王国兵, 阮宏华, 唐燕飞, 等. 森林土壤微生物生物量动态变化研究进展[J]. 安徽农业大学学报, 2009, 36(1):100-104.
	WANG G B, RUAN H H, TANG Y F, et al. A review on the dynamics of soil microbial biomass in forest ecosystems[J]. Journal of Anhui Agricultural University, 2009, 36(1):100-104.DOI: 10.13610/j.cnki.1672-352x.2009.01.026.
[30]	WARREN M, ZOU X M. Seasonal nitrogen retention in temperate hardwood forests[J]. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2003, 27(1):11-15.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2003.0002.
[31]	XU X F, THORNTON P E, POST W M. A global analysis of soil microbial biomass carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in terrestrial ecosystems[J]. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2013, 22(6):737-749.DOI: 10.1111/geb.12029.

Related Articles 15

[1]	CAO Lili, RUAN Honghua, LI Yuanyuan, NI Juanping, WANG Guobing, CAO Guohua, SHEN Caiqin, XU Yaming. Variations of surface soil macrofauna in different aged Metasequoia glyptostroboides plantations [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2025, 49(2): 91-98.
[2]	JIANG Xiaozeng, ZHU Yan, ZHOU Hengwei, HUANG Xingzhao, FU Longlong, WAN Fangfang. Effects of drought on nitrogen uptake and distribution in Camellia oleifera root under nitrogen addition [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2025, 49(1): 95-102.
[3]	YE Yuyan, DING Fangjun, WU Peng, ZHOU Hua, LI Yuanyong, ZHOU Ting, CUI Yingchun. Effects of hydraulics and anatomical structure on sap flow of nine tree species in Karst primary forest [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2024, 48(6): 111-120.
[4]	SONG Zihe, ZHEN Yan. Advancements in the research of miRNAs associated with plant drought and salt stress responses [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2024, 48(4): 1-11.
[5]	MA Tan, TIAN Ye, WANG Shujun, LI Wenhao, DUAN Qiying, ZHANG Qingyuan. Sex-specific leaf physiological responses of southern-type poplar to short-term intermittent soil drought [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2024, 48(3): 172-180.
[6]	SHEN Yang, DI Jingjing, CHEN Ying, FENG Kai, LU Jinling, HU Yuchen. Effects of H₂S donor NaHS on the adaptability and antioxidant properties of Agave americana plantlets under an in vitro culture of osmotic stress [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2024, 48(2): 121-128.
[7]	DU Jincheng, LI Xinxin, WANG Zeliang, LIU Si, ZHONG Yi, WANG Lihua. Response of physiological indexes of three Olea europaea cultivars to PEG stress [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2024, 48(2): 137-143.
[8]	WANG Zhipu, LI Zhuorong, LUO Zhibin, DENG Shurong. Mechanisms of PagAPY1 in regulating drought tolerance in Populus alba × P. glandulosa [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2023, 47(6): 105-112.
[9]	MU Hongna, WANG Wei, FAN Lei, WU Chu, GUO Xiaohua, SUN Taoze. Effects of Piriformospora indica on growth and drought resistance in Osmanthus fragrans under water deficit stress [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2023, 47(2): 101-106.
[10]	XU Chen, RUAN Honghua, WU Xiaoqiao, XIE Youchao, YANG Yan. Progresses in drought stress on the accumulation and turnover of soil organic carbon in forests [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2022, 46(6): 195-206.
[11]	WANG Bixia, DU Xiaoqi, DENG Yan, CAI Xiaomei, SU Guangcan. Seasonal variations of the nutrients and phenols from olive leaves in main cultivation varieties at Liangshan, Sichuan Province [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2022, 46(4): 169-176.
[12]	LI Mengjuan, ZHU Liming, HUO Junnan, ZHANG Jingbo, SHI Jisen, CHENG Tielong. Cloning and expression analyses of NtCBL1,NtCBL2 gene of Nitraria tangutorum [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2021, 45(3): 93-99.
[13]	HONG Zhen, LIU Shuxin, HONG Conghao, LEI Xiaohua. Resistance response of five afforestation tree species under drought stress [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2021, 45(2): 111-119.
[14]	SHI Xinlong, YANG Yueqin, XUE Xian, LIU Wei, SONG Chengwei, GUO Lili, HOU Xiaogai. Effects of chitooligosaccharide on the growth physiology of Paeonia ostii ‘Feng Dan’ seedlings under drought stress [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2021, 45(2): 120-126.
[15]	YU Linlin, HU Haibo, YU Wei. Effects of urban green spaces on PM_2.5concentrations in atmosphere [J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2020, 44(3): 179-184.

Metrics

Comments

www.nldxb.njfu.edu.cn

Edited ＆ Published by Editorial Department of Nanjing Forestry University(Natural Sciences Edition)
Address： No.159 Longpan Road,Nanjing 210037 Jiangsu,P.R.China
E-mail ：xuebao@njfu.edu.cn , xuebao@njfu.com.cn
Telephone +86-25-85428247,85427076
Distributed by China International Book Trading Corporation P.O. Box 399, Beijing ,P.R. China

指标index	CK	D1	D2	指标index	CK	D1	D2
土壤含水率/% SWC	26.79±0.70 a	24.96±0.80 ab	23.83±0.80 b	c(SOC)/(g·kg^-1)	11.67±0.42 a	11.00±0.31 a	10.58±0.26 a
pH	8.25±0.01 b	8.34±0.02 a	8.38±0.02 a	c(AP)/(mg·kg^-1)	5.17±0.32 a	3.66±0.34 b	3.63±0.21 b
土壤容重/ (g·cm^-3) BD	1.19±0.02 a	1.14±0.03 a	1.20±0.02 a	c(TC)/(g·kg^-1)	17.11±0.13 a	17.63±0.18 a	17.27±0.17 a
c($\mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}-\mathrm{N}$)/ (mg·kg^-1)	0.93±0.16 b	2.30±0.23 a	2.75±0.25 a	c(TN)/(g·kg^-1)	1.25±0.03 a	1.21±0.02 a	1.18±0.03 a
c($\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$)/ (mg·kg^-1)	1.46±0.21 a	0.73±0.28 b	0.46±0.04 b	c(TP)/(mg·kg^-1)	883.73±27.04 a	840.66±24.21 ab	819.63±25.91 b
c(DOC)/ (mg·kg^-1)	510.80±30.21 a	413.70±43.50 ab	343.42±39.54 b	C/N	14.10±0.34 a	14.43±0.32 a	14.64±0.40 a

指标index		MBC		MBN		MBP		MBC/MBN		MBC/MBP	MBN/MBP
MBN		0.844^**
MBP		0.873^**		0.920^**
MBC/MBN		-0.281		-0.744^**		-0.545^**
MBC/MBP		-0.562^**		-0.786^**		-0.869^**		0.697^**
MBN/MBP		-0.533^**		-0.422^*		-0.727^**		0.055		0.750^**
SWC		0.556^**		0.714^**		0.722^**		-0.602^**		-0.718^**	-0.464^**
pH	-0.028		-0.147		-0.225		0.216		0.313		0.252
BD	0.587		0.587		0.560		-0.413		-0.492		-0.395
$\mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}-\mathrm{N}$	-0.070		0.026		-0.025		-0.159		-0.064		0.074
$\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$	-0.639^**		-0.660^**		-0.657^**		0.378^*		0.498^**		0.353^*
DOC	-0.012		-0.081		-0.081		0.137		0.143		0.084
SOC	-0.379^*		-0.587^**		-0.534^**		0.612^**		0.651^**		0.319
AP	-0.009		-0.015		0.063		0.072		-0.020		-0.103
TC	-0.289		-0.356^*		-0.282		0.303		0.186		-0.019
TN	0.520^**		0.655^**		0.624^**		-0.513^**		-0.620^**		-0.395^*
TP	0.122		0.246		0.345^*		-0.299		-0.449^**		-0.376^*
C/N	-0.571^**		-0.735^**		-0.662^**		0.600^**		0.596^**		0.595^*

Effects of drought on the soil microbial biomass C, N, P ecological stoichiometric characteristics of poplar plantation

RichHTML

PDF

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

Figures/Tables 4

References 31

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

Author

Reader

Reviewer