Changes in Soil Substrate and Microbial Properties Associated with Permafrost Thaw Reduce Nitrogen Mineralization

Xue Yang, Xiaoying Jin*, Sizhong Yang, Huijun Jin*, Hongwei Wang, Xiaoying Li, Ruixia He, Junfeng Wang, Zhizhong Sun, Hanbo Yun

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Anticipated permafrost thaw in upcoming decades may exert significant impacts on forest soil nitrogen (N) dynamics. The rate of soil N mineralization (Nmin) plays a crucial role in determining soil N availability. Nevertheless, our understanding remains limited regarding how biotic and abiotic factors influence the Nmin of forest soil in response to permafrost thaw. In this study, we investigated the implications of permafrost thaw on Nmin within a hemiboreal forest based on a field investigation along the degree of permafrost thaw, having monitored permafrost conditions for eight years. The results indicate that permafrost thaw markedly decreased Nmin values. Furthermore, Nmin demonstrated positive associations with soil substrates (namely, soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen), microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and soil moisture content. The decline in Nmin due to permafrost thaw was primarily attributed to the diminished quality and quantity of soil substrates rather than alterations in plant community composition. Collectively, our results underscore the pivotal role of soil substrate and microbial biomass in guiding forest soil N transformations in the face of climate-induced permafrost thaw.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2060
JournalForests
Volume14
Issue number10
Number of pages15
ISSN1999-4907
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

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© 2023 by the authors.

Keywords

  • forests
  • microbial biomass
  • nitrogen mineralization
  • permafrost thaw
  • soil organic carbon and nitrogen

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