TY - JOUR

T1 - Soil [N] modulates soil C cycling in CO2-fumigated tree stands

T2 - A meta-analysis

AU - Dieleman, W. I.J.

AU - Luyssaert, S.

AU - Rey, A.

AU - De Angelis, P.

AU - Barton, C. V.M.

AU - Broadmeadow, M. S.J.

AU - Broadmeadow, S. B.

AU - Chigwerewe, K. S.

AU - Crookshanks, M.

AU - Dufrêne, E.

AU - Jarvis, P. G.

AU - Kasurinen, A.

AU - Kellomäki, S.

AU - Le Dantec, V.

AU - Liberloo, M.

AU - Marek, M.

AU - Medlyn, B.

AU - Pokornỳ, R.

AU - Scarascia-Mugnozza, G.

AU - Temperton, V. M.

AU - Tingey, D.

AU - Urban, O.

AU - Ceulemans, R.

AU - Janssens, I. A.

PY - 2010/12

Y1 - 2010/12

N2 - Under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations, soil carbon (C) inputs are typically enhanced, suggesting larger soil C sequestration potential. However, soil C losses also increase and progressive nitrogen (N) limitation to plant growth may reduce the CO2 effect on soil C inputs with time. We compiled a data set from 131 manipulation experiments, and used meta-analysis to test the hypotheses that: (1) elevated atmospheric CO2 stimulates soil C inputs more than C losses, resulting in increasing soil C stocks; and (2) that these responses are modulated by N. Our results confirm that elevated CO2 induces a C allocation shift towards below-ground biomass compartments. However, the increased soil C inputs were offset by increased heterotrophic respiration (Rh), such that soil C content was not affected by elevated CO2. Soil N concentration strongly interacted with CO2 fumigation: the effect of elevated CO2 on fine root biomass and -production and on microbial activity increased with increasing soil N concentration, while the effect on soil C content decreased with increasing soil N concentration. These results suggest that both plant growth and microbial activity responses to elevated CO2 are modulated by N availability, and that it is essential to account for soil N concentration in C cycling analyses.

AB - Under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations, soil carbon (C) inputs are typically enhanced, suggesting larger soil C sequestration potential. However, soil C losses also increase and progressive nitrogen (N) limitation to plant growth may reduce the CO2 effect on soil C inputs with time. We compiled a data set from 131 manipulation experiments, and used meta-analysis to test the hypotheses that: (1) elevated atmospheric CO2 stimulates soil C inputs more than C losses, resulting in increasing soil C stocks; and (2) that these responses are modulated by N. Our results confirm that elevated CO2 induces a C allocation shift towards below-ground biomass compartments. However, the increased soil C inputs were offset by increased heterotrophic respiration (Rh), such that soil C content was not affected by elevated CO2. Soil N concentration strongly interacted with CO2 fumigation: the effect of elevated CO2 on fine root biomass and -production and on microbial activity increased with increasing soil N concentration, while the effect on soil C content decreased with increasing soil N concentration. These results suggest that both plant growth and microbial activity responses to elevated CO2 are modulated by N availability, and that it is essential to account for soil N concentration in C cycling analyses.

KW - [CO] enrichment

KW - C sequestration

KW - Fine root production

KW - Microbial respiration

KW - N fertilization

KW - Root biomass

KW - Biology

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78349243251&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/6ceed0fb-b59b-3741-9ddb-37cd3dd7e66f/

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02201.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02201.x

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 20573048

AN - SCOPUS:78349243251

VL - 33

SP - 2001

EP - 2011

JO - Plant, Cell and Environment

JF - Plant, Cell and Environment

SN - 0140-7791

IS - 12

ER -