Comparing the temperature sensitivity of organic matter decomposition in oxic and oxygen-deprived soils

Abstract

● No consistent variation was found in soil respiration Q₁₀ under various O₂ conditions.

● Substrate C quality had a strong effect on Q₁₀ in oxic soils.

● N limitation had a large impact on Q₁₀ in soils under O₂ limitation.

Current studies on the temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition mainly focus on aerobic conditions. However, variations and determinants of Q₁₀ in oxygen (O₂)-deprived soils remain unclear. Here we incubated three grassland soils under oxic, suboxic, and anoxic conditions subjected to varying temperatures to compare variations in Q₁₀ in relation to changing substrates. No consistent variation was found in Q₁₀ under various O₂ conditions. Further analysis of edaphic properties demonstrated that substrate carbon quality showed a strong influence on Q₁₀ in oxic soils, whereas nitrogen limitation played a more important role in suboxic and anoxic soils. These results suggest that substrate carbon quality and nitrogen limitation may play roles of varying importance in determining the temperature sensitivity of SOM decomposition under various O₂ conditions.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

oxygen-limited conditions / temperature sensitivity / soil respiration / carbon substrate / nitrogen limitation

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Higher Education Press