Microbial properties explain temporal variation in soil respiration in a grassland subjected to nitrogen addition

Abstract

The role of soil microbial variables in shaping the temporal variability of soil respiration has been well acknowledged but is poorly understood, particularly under elevated nitrogen (N) deposition conditions. We measured soil respiration along with soil microbial properties during the early, middle, and late growing seasons in temperate grassland plots that had been treated with N additions of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 g N m -2 yr-1 for 10 years. Representing the averages over three observation periods, total (R s) and heterotrophic (R h) respiration were highest with 4 g N m -2 yr-1 but autotrophic respiration (R a) was highest with 8 to 16 g N m -2 yr-1 Also, the responses of R h and R a were unsynchronized considering the periods separately. N addition had no significant impact on the temperature sensitivity (Q 10) for R s but inhibited the Q 10 for R h. Significant interactions between observation period and N level occurred in soil respiration components, and the temporal variations in soil respiration components were mostly associated with changes in microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Further observation on soil organic carbon and root biomass is needed to reveal the long-term effect of N deposition on soil C sequestration.