Data from: Coarse woody debris decomposition along an elevation gradient alleviates soil microbial P limitation but intensifies C limitation at Wuyishan National Park
Abstract
Soil microorganisms play a vital role in biogeochemical cycles by transforming plant residues into soil organic matter through catabolic processes, thereby significantly influencing carbon (C) storage. Changes in microbial metabolic limitations serve as important indicators of shifts in resource availability and microbial survival strategies. Coarse woody debris (CWD) decomposition is a stable source of C and nutrients. This process significantly affects microbial metabolism and is influenced by factors like nutrient availability, vegetation, and climate. However, the effect of CWD decomposition on microbial metabolic limitations, particularly across diverse environmental gradients, remains poorly understood. Our study investigated the impact of different decay classes of CWD on soil microbial metabolic limitation along an elevational gradient in Wuyishan National Park. it examines changes in soil properties, microbial metabolic limitation and enzyme activities during CWD decomposition. We observed increased C limitation and decreased phosphorus (P) limitation in soil microorganisms during CWD decomposition. These trends showed consistent characteristics along the elevational gradient, with soil microbial C limitation gradually increasing and P limitation decreasing as elevation increased. This process was regulated by soil pH and oxidase activity. Our study demonstrated that the presence of CWD could modify the soil environment, allowing microorganisms to adjust their nutrient acquisition strategies, a process that would influence soil C turnover. In conclusion, resource constraints during CWD decomposition induced microbial metabolic trade-offs, and shifts in these trade-off strategies may influence soil C storage. This study offers new insights into the interactions among plant residues, soil, and microorganisms, thereby enhancing our understanding of soil C cycling in the context of global climate change.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.h9w0vt4vn
Description of the data and file structure
Our experimental areas are situated within Wuyishan National Park, Fujian Province, China (27°330′-27°54′N, 117°270′-117°51′E). The area hosts a well-preserved subtropical forest ecosystem at the same latitude. The area experiences a mean annual temperature (MAT) of 15.2 ℃ and a mean annual precipitation (MAP) of 2000 mm. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Taxonomy Classification System, the soil is predominantly categorized as Ultisols and Inceptisols. The park features five distinct vegetation types distributed along an elevation gradient: evergreen broad-leaf forest (EBF, 650m), coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (CBF, 1340m), coniferous forest (CF, 1980m), subalpine dwarf forest (DF, 2050m), and alpine meadow (AM, 2150m). The dominant plant species are Castanopsis eyrie in evergreen broad-leaf forest (EBF), Castanopsis eyrie and Pinus taiwanensis in CBF, Pinus taiwanensis in coniferous forest (CF), Symplocos paniculate in dwarf forest (DF), and Calamagrostis brachytricha in alpine meadow (AM).
This study focused on four vegetation types: EBF, CBF, CF, and DF. Experimental sites were established in August 2020 (Table S1). At each elevation, four replicate plots measuring 100 × 100 m were set up, totaling 16 plots along the elevation gradient. Our field study was licensed. Within each plot, fallen wood (logs with a diameter >10 cm) was identified and classified into five decay classes (DC) based on a combination of methods from (Carmona et al. 2002) and (Mäkinen et al. 2006). Detailed classification characteristics are presented in Table S2. For each decay class, four fallen logs of the dominant tree species were selected. Soil cores were collected from mineral soil layers using a sterilized soil corer (4 cm inner diameter) to a depth of 0-10 cm on both sides of each fallen log, with three sub-soil samples taken on each side. These six sub-soil samples were combined to form a composite sample. Additionally, control soil samples (CK) were collected, each comprising 12 sub-soil samples randomly obtained from areas at least 2 m away from fallen wood. In total, 96 soil samples were collected (4 vegetation types × 6 decay classes, including the control × 4 replicates). The collected soil samples were immediately sieved (2 mm) to remove soil fauna, rocks, and plant roots, placed in zip bags, and transported in coolers to the laboratory at Nanjing Forestry University. Soil samples were then air-dried or stored at 4°C and -80°C for subsequent analyses.
data.csv
| Column name | Description | Units | Data format | Missing data code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decay Class (DC) | The decay class of CWD | - | Category | - |
| Elevation | Elevation gradient | - | Category | - |
| pH | Soil pH | - | Number | - |
| SWC | Soil water content | % | Number | - |
| SOC | Soil organic carbon | g/kg | Number | - |
| DOC | Soil dissolved organic carbon | mg/kg | Number | - |
| AN | Soil available nitrogen | mg/kg | Number | - |
| AP | Soil available phosphorus | mg/kg | Number | - |
| DOC:AN | The ratio of DOC to AN | - | Number | - |
| DOC:AP | The ratio of DOC to AP | - | Number | - |
| AN:AP | The ratio of AN to AP | - | Number | - |
| F | Soil fungal biomass | copy/g | Number | - |
| B | Soil bacterial biomass | copy/g | Number | - |
| F:B | The ratio of fungal biomass to bacterial biomass | - | Number | - |
| vecL | Vector length quantifies the relative microbial C vs. nutrient limitation; increasing length indicates greater relative C limitation. | - | Number | - |
| vecA | The vector angle represents the relative phosphorus vs. nitrogen limitation in soil microbes. | - | Number | - |
| Enzyme C | Carbon-acquiring hydrolase activities | nmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - |
| Enzyme N | Nitrogen-acquiring hydrolase activities | nmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - |
| Enzyme P | Phosphorus-acquiring hydrolase activities | nmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - |
| Enzyme CN | Soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry | - | Number | - |
| Enzyme CP | Soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry | - | Number | - |
| Enzyme NP | Soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry | - | Number | - |
| Oxidase | Oxidase activities | µmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - |