Elevated CO2 and Tree Species Affect Microbial Activity and Associated Aggregate Stability in Soil Amended with Litter

Salwan M. J. Al-Maliki; David L. Jones; Douglas L. Godbold; Dylan Gwynn-Jones; John Scullion

doi:10.3390/f8030070

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Elevated CO2 and Tree Species Affect Microbial Activity and Associated Aggregate Stability in Soil Amended with Litter

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Elevated CO2 and Tree Species Affect Microbial Activity and Associated Aggregate Stability in Soil Amended with Litter

Salwan M. J. Al-Maliki, David L. Jones, Douglas L. Godbold, Dylan Gwynn-Jones and John Scullion

Forests, Vol.8(3), 70

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030070

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Abstract

Forestry

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Science & Technology

(1) Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO(2)) may affect organic inputs to woodland soils with potential consequences for C dynamics and associated aggregation; (2) The Bangor Free Air Concentration Enrichment experiment compared ambient (330 ppmv) and elevated (550 ppmv) CO2 regimes over four growing seasons (2005-2008) under Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula and Fagus sylvatica. Litter from the experiment (autumn 2008) and Lumbricus terrestris were added to mesocosm soils. Microbial properties and aggregate stability were investigated in soil and earthworm casts. Soils taken from the field experiment in spring 2009 were also investigated; (3) eCO(2) litter had lower N and higher C:N ratios. F. sylvatica and B. pendula litter had lower N and P than A. glutinosa; F. sylvatica had higher cellulose. In mesocosms, eCO(2) litter decreased respiration, mineralization constant (respired C:total organic C) and soluble carbon in soil but not earthworm casts; microbial-C and fungal hyphal length differed by species (A. glutinosa = B. pendula > F. sylvatica) not CO2 regime. eCO(2) increased respiration in field aggregates but increased stability only under F. sylvatica; (4) Lower litter quality under eCO(2) may restrict its initial decomposition, affecting C stabilization in aggregates. Later resistant materials may support microbial activity and increase aggregate stability. In woodland, C and soil aggregation dynamics may alter under eCO(2), but outcomes may be influenced by tree species and earthworm activity.

Details

Title: Elevated CO2 and Tree Species Affect Microbial Activity and Associated Aggregate Stability in Soil Amended with Litter
Authors/Creators: Salwan M. J. Al-Maliki - Aberystwyth Univ, Inst Biol Environm & Rural Sci, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, Dyfed, Wales
David L. Jones - Bangor University
Douglas L. Godbold - BOKU University
Dylan Gwynn-Jones - Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
John Scullion - Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
Publication Details: Forests, Vol.8(3), 70
Publisher: MDPI
Number of pages: 13
Grant note: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Iraq
Identifiers: 991005560418907891
Copyright: © 2017 by the authors.
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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8 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.45 Soil Science; 3.45.112 Soil Carbon Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Forestry
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science