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Aims <p>Aridity levels influence the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Soil microbes are important factors in SOC accumulation. In aridity-affected alpine grassland ecosystems, the relationships between SOC and microbial carbon pools and community characteristics remain unclear. We aimed to examine the role of climatic, soil, and microbial factors in SOC accumulation along soil aridity and depth gradients.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a comprehensive analysis of soil and microbial factors across 109 sites spanning a 3000&#xa0;km aridity gradient in alpine grassland ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau. The relationship between soil microbial communities and microbial sources of carbon and soil organic carbon in alpine grassland was investigated by combining high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatic analysis and biomarker technology.</p> Results <p>Soil organic carbon content decreased significantly with increasing aridity and soil depth, with a threshold at an aridity level of 0.49. The microbial diversity exhibited a unimodal response pattern along the aridity gradient. Based on the aridity threshold, we investigated the microbial mechanisms of SOC accumulation in high- and low-aridity regions. SOC was more negatively affected by microbial diversity in the low-aridity region. In the high-aridity region, the influence of fungi on SOC accumulation gradually decreased with decreasing aridity. Microbial necromass carbon was a more significant contributor to SOC. Soil total nitrogen, pH, and moisture were key factors affecting SOC accumulation.</p> Conclusions <p>The aridity threshold is intricately linked to the physiological mechanisms employed by microorganisms to adapt to water scarcity. The results emphasize the important role of microorganisms in aridity-driven SOC partitioning; management practices that improve microbial traits may increase the level of SOC accumulation in alpine grasslands.</p>

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Higher aridity in alpine grasslands discourages soil organic carbon accumulation by microorganisms

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月16日

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  • Jia Li,
  • Xia Wang,
  • Ya Rong Zhang,
  • Ya Zhen Li,
  • Meng Han Yuan,
  • Yun Fei Zhao,
  • Wen Hui Duan,
  • Jie Yi Xia,
  • Zi Yang Niu

摘要

Aims

Aridity levels influence the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Soil microbes are important factors in SOC accumulation. In aridity-affected alpine grassland ecosystems, the relationships between SOC and microbial carbon pools and community characteristics remain unclear. We aimed to examine the role of climatic, soil, and microbial factors in SOC accumulation along soil aridity and depth gradients.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of soil and microbial factors across 109 sites spanning a 3000 km aridity gradient in alpine grassland ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau. The relationship between soil microbial communities and microbial sources of carbon and soil organic carbon in alpine grassland was investigated by combining high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatic analysis and biomarker technology.

Results

Soil organic carbon content decreased significantly with increasing aridity and soil depth, with a threshold at an aridity level of 0.49. The microbial diversity exhibited a unimodal response pattern along the aridity gradient. Based on the aridity threshold, we investigated the microbial mechanisms of SOC accumulation in high- and low-aridity regions. SOC was more negatively affected by microbial diversity in the low-aridity region. In the high-aridity region, the influence of fungi on SOC accumulation gradually decreased with decreasing aridity. Microbial necromass carbon was a more significant contributor to SOC. Soil total nitrogen, pH, and moisture were key factors affecting SOC accumulation.

Conclusions

The aridity threshold is intricately linked to the physiological mechanisms employed by microorganisms to adapt to water scarcity. The results emphasize the important role of microorganisms in aridity-driven SOC partitioning; management practices that improve microbial traits may increase the level of SOC accumulation in alpine grasslands.