Pedosphere (2): 474--483, 2026
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2026 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Long-term nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization modulates methane uptake and microbial community dynamics in subtropical forest soils |
Wanying DONG1, Wenyan LI1, Suwen FENG1, Yongcui DENG2, Zemei ZHENG1,3, Sascha M. B. KRAUSE1,3 |
1 School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241 (China)
2 School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097 (China)
3 Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Chinese National Ecosystem Observation and Research Network, Ningbo 315132 (China) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Subtropical forests play a crucial role in reducing atmospheric methane (CH4) levels; however, how long-term nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment regulates CH4 uptake at low CH4 levels remains poorly understood. This study combined laboratory microcosms, CH4 uptake potential measurements, DNA-stable isotope probing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene to assess atmospheric CH4 uptake at low levels of CH4 and the dynamics of CH4-consuming communities in subtropical forest soils under long-term nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. While three-month microcosm incubation did not reveal consistent patterns in CH4 uptake with nitrogen fertilization, the increase in phosphate (PO43-) availability stimulated CH4 uptake, suggesting alleviation of phosphorus limitation. The abundance of upland soil cluster α methanotrophs, crucial for atmospheric CH4 uptake, exhibited sensitivity to high nitrogen levels, potentially influencing CH4 dynamics in the forest ecosystems. Furthermore, the genus Methylocystis was identified as the predominant active methanotroph in the plots with high nitrogen and phosphorus levels, suggesting its adaptation to metabolize atmospheric CH4 under nutrient-rich conditions. These findings underscore the complex interplay between nutrient availability, microbial communities, and atmospheric CH4 dynamics in subtropical forest soils under ongoing nutrient deposition. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and their implications for ecosystem functions. |
| Key Words: climate change,greenhouse gas,methanotrophs,nutrient deposition,stable isotope probing |
| Citation: Dong W Y, Li W Y, Feng S W, Deng Y C, Zheng Z M, Krause S M B. 2026. Long-term nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization modulates methane uptake and microbial community dynamics in subtropical forest soils. Pedosphere. 36(2): 474-483. |
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