Divergent chemical responses of soil carbon and phosphorus to nutrient addition mediated by functional carbon pools in tropical forests
摘要
Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition is intensifying imbalances in global biogeochemical cycles. However, the effects of this deposition on soil carbon (C) and P linkages remain poorly understood due to their complex physical and biochemical interactions.
MethodsWe investigated the concentrations and chemistry (using 13C solid-state and solution 31P NMR spectroscopy) of C and P in bulk soil and soil organic C (SOC) fractions (particulate (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM)) in a tropical coastal forest after 12 years of N and P additions.
ResultsNutrient additions did not significantly alter SOC concentrations, C fractions, or chemical composition. However, P additions significantly increased soil total and inorganic P, particularly P in POM, but not in MAOM. Crucially, P additions induced divergent responses in soil C and P pools mediated by soil functional carbon fractions. This finding also challenges the prevailing paradigm that P limitation constrains soil C sequestration in highly weathered tropical soils.
ConclusionsOur results provide insights into how long-term nutrient deposition disrupts soil C-P interactions, with implications for predicting soil C stability in tropical forests. These findings call for context-specific nutrient management in regions experiencing sustained P deposition.