Long-term soil warming decreases microbial phosphorus utilization by increasing abiotic phosphorus sorption and phosphorus losses

authored by

Ye Tian, Chupei Shi, Carolina Urbina Malo, Steve Kwatcho Kengdo, Jakob Heinzle, Erich Inselsbacher, Franz Ottner, Werner Borken, Kerstin Michel, Andreas Schindlbacher, Wolfgang Wanek

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential and often limiting element that could play a crucial role in terrestrial ecosystem responses to climate warming. However, it has yet remained unclear how different P cycling processes are affected by warming. Here we investigate the response of soil P pools and P cycling processes in a mountain forest after 14 years of soil warming (+4 °C). Long-term warming decreased soil total P pools, likely due to higher outputs of P from soils by increasing net plant P uptake and downward transportation of colloidal and particulate P. Warming increased the sorption strength to more recalcitrant soil P fractions (absorbed to iron oxyhydroxides and clays), thereby further reducing bioavailable P in soil solution. As a response, soil microbes enhanced the production of acid phosphatase, though this was not sufficient to avoid decreases of soil bioavailable P and microbial biomass P (and biotic phosphate immobilization). This study therefore highlights how long-term soil warming triggers changes in biotic and abiotic soil P pools and processes, which can potentially aggravate the P constraints of the trees and soil microbes and thereby negatively affect the C sequestration potential of these forests.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Soil Science

External Organisation(s)

University of Vienna
University of Bayreuth
Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW)
University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU)
University of Amsterdam

Type

Article

Journal

Nature Communications

Volume

14

ISSN

2041-1723

Publication date

16.02.2023

Publication status

E-pub ahead of print

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemistry(all), Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all), General, Physics and Astronomy(all)

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action, SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36527-8 (Access: Open)