Professor Li Junmin’s team has recently published a paper titled “Are there links between nutrient inputs and the response of microbial carbon use efficiency or soil organic carbon? A Meta-analysis” in the renowned journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry (Impact Factor: 9.8). Associate Professor Liu Minghui is the first author, Professor Li Junmin is the corresponding author, and Taizhou University is the sole institution. This research was funded by the Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) is a comprehensive indicator that measures soil carbon accumulation and loss due to microbial growth and respiration. It is considered a key factor in determining the fate of soil organic carbon (SOC). Microbial CUE is sensitive to changes in soil nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Global nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, driven by climate change and human activities, such as atmospheric nitrogen deposition, fossil fuel combustion, and fertilization practices, have prompted widespread nutrient additions. Therefore, assessing the impact of nutrient inputs on CUE is critical, particularly in relation to the resulting changes in SOC accumulation. In this study, a dataset comprising 389 paired observations from 58 studies was collected, and meta-analysis was employed to investigate the response of microbial CUE to nutrient additions and the driving factors behind it. The study also explored the relationship between microbial CUE and SOC under nutrient addition.

The results of the meta-analysis indicated that nutrient addition increased microbial CUE by 11.5%. The response of microbial CUE to nutrient inputs varied depending on factors such as nutrient type, application rates, ecosystem, and climatic conditions. Notably, soil nitrogen availability and carbon-nitrogen cycle-related enzyme activities were significantly positively and negatively correlated with microbial CUE, respectively, after nutrient inputs. Importantly, while nutrient addition enhanced microbial carbon input and promoted soil carbon accumulation, microbial CUE and SOC were not strongly correlated. The contribution of microbial CUE to SOC under nutrient addition was not as significant as previously assumed. This study enhances the global understanding of the effects of nutrient addition on microbial CUE and highlights the need for further research focusing on the role of microbial CUE in SOC sequestration.

Paper Information:

Minghui Liu, Hanyang Lin, Junmin Li*, 2024. “Are there links between nutrient inputs and the response of microbial carbon use efficiency or soil organic carbon? A Meta-analysis.” Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 201, 109656.

Link to the Paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109656