Acid rain reduces plant-photosynthesized carbon sequestration and soil microbial network complexity

Ziqiang Liu; Jiayi Chen; Zhijun Su; Zhenxiu Liu; Yazheng Li; Jing Wang; Lizhu Wu; Hui Wei; Jiaen Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162030

Acid rain reduces plant-photosynthesized carbon sequestration and soil microbial network complexity

Sci Total Environ. 2023 May 15:873:162030. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162030. Epub 2023 Feb 4.

Authors

Ziqiang Liu¹, Jiayi Chen², Zhijun Su¹, Zhenxiu Liu², Yazheng Li², Jing Wang², Lizhu Wu², Hui Wei³, Jiaen Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
² Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
³ Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: weihui@scau.edu.cn.
⁴ Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: jeanzh@scau.edu.cn.

PMID: 36740064
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162030

Abstract

Acid rain threatens the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems; however, the mechanisms by which acid rain affects the photosynthesized carbon (C) fluxes and soil microbial communities are far less understood, thus impeding accurate projections of regional C flux in the plant-soil-atmosphere system. In this study, we performed an isotopic ¹³C labeling experiment to trace C footprints in a maize-soil system under acid rain pollution (pH 4.5 and 3.0; SO₄^2-/NO₃^-= 2:1). Our results showed that acid rain exerted a negligible effect on total plant biomass as well as shoot biomass. Acid rain of pH 3.0 inhibited plant ¹³C assimilation and the flow of fixed ¹³C to the soil. Acid rain decreased soil total C and organic nitrogen (N) but increased inorganic N (i.e., nitrate-N) content. The acid rain of pH 3.0 enhanced soil bulk density, led to soil acidification, and promoted soil microbial diversity. However, acid rain reduced the connectivity and complexity of soil microbial network. Soil ¹³C content was mainly regulated by soil pH, ammonium-N, and root biomass. Our findings demonstrated that acid rain reduces photosynthesized C sequestration of maize-soil system and soil microbial taxa interactions.

Keywords: (13)C stable isotope; Acid deposition; C cycling; Microbial networks; Soil biochemistry.

MeSH terms

Acid Rain*
Biomass
Carbon / chemistry
Carbon Sequestration
Ecosystem*
Nitrogen / analysis
Soil / chemistry
Soil Microbiology

Substances

Acid Rain
Soil
Nitrogen
Carbon