Dieleman, W.I.J., Luyssaert, S., Rey, A., De Angelis, P., Barton, C.V.M., Broadmeadow, M.S.J., Broadmeadow, S.B., Chigwerewe, K.S., Crookshanks, M., Dufrêne, E., Jarvis, P.G., Kasurinen, A., Kellomäki, S., Le Dantec, V., Liberloo, M., Marek, M., Medlyn, B., Pokorný, R., Scarascia-Mugnozza, G., Temperton, V.M., Tingey, D., Urban, O., Ceulemans, R., and Janssens, I.A. (2010) Soil [N] modulates soil C cycling in CO2-fumigated tree stands: a meta-analysis. Plant, Cell & Environment, 33 (12). pp. 2001-2011.

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Abstract

Under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations, soil carbon (C) inputs are typically enhanced, suggesting larger soil C sequestration potential. However, soil C losses also increase and progressive nitrogen (N) limitation to plant growth may reduce the CO2 effect on soil C inputs with time. We compiled a data set from 131 manipulation experiments, and used meta-analysis to test the hypotheses that: (1) elevated atmospheric CO2 stimulates soil C inputs more than C losses, resulting in increasing soil C stocks; and (2) that these responses are modulated by N. Our results confirm that elevated CO2 induces a C allocation shift towards below-ground biomass compartments. However, the increased soil C inputs were offset by increased heterotrophic respiration (Rh), such that soil C content was not affected by elevated CO2. Soil N concentration strongly interacted with CO2 fumigation: the effect of elevated CO2 on fine root biomass and –production and on microbial activity increased with increasing soil N concentration, while the effect on soil C content decreased with increasing soil N concentration. These results suggest that both plant growth and microbial activity responses to elevated CO2 are modulated by N availability, and that it is essential to account for soil N concentration in C cycling analyses.

Item ID:	19961
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1365-3040
Funders:	University of Antwerp Research Centre of Excellence ECO
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2012 02:54
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050204 Environmental Impact Assessment @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9603 Climate and Climate Change > 960310 Global Effects of Climate Change and Variability (excl. Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the South Pacific) @ 100%
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