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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (2): 138-153.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023108

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Effects of adding different nutrients on soil microbial carbon source utilization in degraded alpine wetland in the source region of the Yellow River

Peng DUAN1(), Rong-yi WEI1, Fang-ping WANG1, Bu-qing YAO2(), Zhi-zhong ZHAO1,3(), Bi-xia HU1, Ci SONG2,4, Ping YANG2,4, Ting WANG1   

  1. 1.Qinghai University,Xining 810016,China
    2.Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology,Chinses Academny of Sciences,Xining 810008,China
    3.College of Ecological and Environment Science,Qinghai University of Science and Technology,Xining 810016,China
    4.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
  • Received:2023-04-06 Revised:2023-05-12 Online:2024-02-20 Published:2023-12-12
  • Contact: Bu-qing YAO,Zhi-zhong ZHAO

Abstract:

The carbon source utilization capacity of soil microbes is an important evaluation indicator during the restoration of degraded wetlands. However, the effects of nutrient addition on carbon source utilization of soil microbes during the restoration of degraded wetlands remains unclear. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the effect of adding different nutrients on the carbon source utilization ability of soil microbes in a degraded alpine wetland. To this end, a field experiment was conducted in degraded alpine wetlands at various stages of degradation in the source region of the Yellow River. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic compound fertilizer were added to the soil, and the effects of these treatments on the vegetation characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, and carbon source utilization of soil microbes in wetlands at different stages of degradation were analyzed using conventional laboratory methods and the Biolog-Eco method. The results indicate that nutrient addition significantly improved the overall carbon source utilization ability of soil microbes in moderately degraded alpine wetland. However, the carbon source utilization ability of soil microbes in more heavily degraded wetland was not significantly improved by adding phosphorous or organic compound fertilizer. The addition of different nutrients affected the ability of soil microbes to utilize different carbon sources. In degraded wetland, the addition of nitrogen and organic compound fertilizer significantly increased the proportion of lipid and alcohol carbon sources utilized by microbes, and decreased the proportion of acid carbon sources utilized. After the addition of different nutrients, the overall carbon source utilization ability of soil microbes in the degraded alpine wetlands was mainly influenced by their ability to utilize esters, alcohols, and amino acids. Structural equation modeling showed that the addition of both nitrogen and organic compound fertilizer promoted the carbon source utilization of soil microbes by increasing the aboveground biomass of vegetation in degraded alpine wetland. However, the effect of adding organic compound fertilizer to enhance carbon source utilization by microbes was limited by lower soil moisture contents. These results provide a scientific basis for further research on, and development of, restoration strategies for degraded alpine wetlands and for the evaluation of the extent of restoration.

Key words: degraded alpine wetlands, nutrient addition, soil microbes, carbon source utilization