title: Differential effects of conifer and broadleaf litter inputs on soil organic carbon chemical composition through altered soil microbial community composition.
abstract: A strategic selection of tree species will shift the type and quality of litter input, and subsequently magnitude and composition of the soil organic carbon (SOC) through soil microbial community. We conducted a manipulative experiment in randomized block design with leaf litter inputs of four native subtropical tree species in a Pinus massoniana plantation in southern China and found that the chemical composition of SOC did not differ significantly among treatments until after 28 months of the experiment. Contrasting leaf litter inputs had significant impacts on the amounts of total microbial, Gram-positive bacterial, and actinomycic PLFAs, but not on the amounts of total bacterial, Gram-negative bacterial, and fungal PLFAs. There were significant differences in alkyl/O-alkyl C in soils among the leaf litter input treatments, but no apparent differences in the proportions of chemical compositions (alkyl, O-alkyl, aromatic, and carbonyl C) in SOC. Soil alkyl/O-alkyl C was significantly related to the amounts of total microbial, and Gram-positive bacterial PLFAs, but not to the chemical compositions of leaf litter. Our findings suggest that changes in forest leaf litter inputs could result in changes in chemical stability of SOC through the altered microbial community composition.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No.2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No.2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6215, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6125, USA.
authors.forename: Jing-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No.2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Zuo-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No.2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China's State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No.2 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Pi-Zheng
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, 532600, China.
authors.forename: An-Gang
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, 532600, China.
authors.forename: Hao-Long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, 532600, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, 532600, China.
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, 532600, China.
authors.forename: Dao-Xiong
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D000076282:Composting; D017753:Ecosystem; D029962:Fagaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D065928:Forests; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen