Global patterns of nutrient limitation in soil microorganisms

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Soil Science
• Microbial Ecology

Background:

• Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are crucial for soil microbial life.
• Global patterns of N and P limitation in soil microbial metabolism are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess global patterns of microbial N and P limitation in surface soils.
• To investigate the spatial variation in nutrient limitation across diverse ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Modeled ecoenzyme stoichiometry data from 5,259 global field observations.
• Used upscaling to a 0.1 × 0.1° spatial resolution for global assessment.

Main Results:

• Microbial P limitation is more globally prevalent than N limitation, particularly at low latitudes.
• Widespread N and P colimitation occurs in tropical soils, contrary to the traditional view.
• N and P limitation affects 39% and 57% of terrestrial surfaces, respectively, with 21% experiencing colimitation.

Conclusions:

• Nitrogen availability is critical for microbial phosphorus acquisition in low-latitude regions.
• This study enhances the global understanding of nutrient limitation in soil microorganisms.
• Elevated microbial N demand for P-acquisition enzymes may explain tropical N and P colimitation.