Changes in soil C:N:P stoichiometry and microbial structure along soil depth in two forest soils

Abstract

The effects of interactions of soil type and soil depth on soil C:N:P stoichiometry and microorganisms are poorly understood. In this study, soil samples (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-50, 50-100 cm) were collected from two soil types (Haplic luvisols and Eutric cambisols) in Sabina przewalskii Kom. forest of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The soil C:N ratio and soil microbial biomass (SMB) measured using phospholipid fatty acid in Eutric cambisols were significantly higher than in Haplic luvisols, while soil C:P and N:P ratios were the opposite. In the two soil types, the soil C:N ratio significantly increased with soil depth, and the soil C:P and N:P ratios declined. Structural equation modelling (SEM) indicated that soil depth directly affected soil C, N and P contents. Soil type and soil depth could directly affect soil fungal and bacterial biomass, and indirectly affect both of them through soil bulk density. Meanwhile soil fungal biomass was influenced by soil depth through Total C. These results highlighted that the vertical distribution of soil bacteria could largely be attributed to changes of soil fungi depending on soil carbon resources.