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Labile carbon input substantially increases priming effect in urban greenspace soils.
Changyi Lu1, Yifang Zhang2, Heikki Setälä3
1Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China.
Urban lawn soils exhibit a stronger priming effect, accelerating soil organic matter decomposition compared to forests. Soil microbial diversity significantly influences this process, impacting carbon storage in urban environments.
Area of Science:
- Soil Science
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Urban greenspace soils are significant carbon sinks, comparable to agricultural and forest soils.
- The priming effect, crucial for soil organic matter decomposition, is poorly understood in urban ecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intensity of the soil priming effect in urban, suburban, and forest ecosystems.
- To determine the drivers of the priming effect, including nitrogen deposition and microbial community composition.
Main Methods:
- Collected soil samples from urban lawns, suburban lawns, and forests.
- Conducted a 30-day microcosm incubation experiment using 13C-labeled glucose.
- Applied nitrogen additions to simulate nitrogen deposition.
Main Results:
- Lawn soils (urban and suburban) showed significantly higher priming effect intensity than forest soils.
- Nitrogen addition further enhanced the priming effect in urban lawn soils.
- Alpha diversity of soil bacteria and fungi positively correlated with priming effect intensity.
Conclusions:
- Urban greenspaces exhibit a heightened priming effect, influencing soil organic matter dynamics.
- Soil microbial diversity is a key factor modulating the priming effect in urban soils.
- Findings provide insights for predicting carbon stocks and urban development impacts.
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