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Dryad

Remarkable effects of microbial factors on soil phosphorus bioavailability: a country-scale study

Cite this dataset

Li, Jin-tian et al. (2022). Remarkable effects of microbial factors on soil phosphorus bioavailability: a country-scale study [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.r2280gbfr

Abstract

Low soil phosphorus (P) bioavailability causes the widespread occurrence of P-limited terrestrial ecosystems around the globe. Exploring the factors influencing soil P bioavailability at large spatial scales is critical for managing these ecosystems. However, previous studies have mostly focused on abiotic factors. In this study, we explored the effects of microbial factors on soil P bioavailability of terrestrial ecosystems using a countrycontinental-scale sampling effort. Our results showed that soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and acid phosphatase were important predictors of soil P bioavailability of agro- and natural ecosystems across China although they appeared less important than total soil P. The two microbial factors had a positive effect on soil P bioavailability of both ecosystem types and were able to mediate the effects of several abiotic factors (e.g., mean annual temperature). Meanwhile, we revealed that soil phytase could affect soil P bioavailability at the countrycontinental scale via ways similar to those of soil MBC and acid phosphatase, a pattern being more pronounced in agroecosystems than in natural ecosystems. Moreover, we obtained evidence for the positive effects of microbial genes encoding these enzymes on soil P bioavailability at the countrycontinental scale although their effect sizes varied between the two ecosystem types. Taken together, this study demonstrated the remarkable effects of microbial factors on soil P bioavailability at a large spatial scale, highlighting the importance to consider microbial factors in managing the widespread P-limited terrestrial ecosystems.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 41622106

Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province, Award: 2019B110207001

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Award: 2018M640798

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Award: 2019M652939

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 31600082

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 42077117