the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Patterns of microbial processes shaped by parent material and soil depth in tropical rainforest soils
Laurent K. Kidinda
Folasade K. Olagoke
Cordula Vogel
Karsten Kalbitz
Sebastian Doetterl
Abstract. Microbial processes are one of the key factors driving carbon (C) and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, and are strongly driven by the equilibrium between resource availability and demand. In deeply weathered tropical rainforest soils of Africa, it remains unclear whether patterns of microbial processes differ between soils developed from geochemically contrasting parent materials. Here we show that resource availability across soil depths and regions from mafic to felsic geochemistry shape patterns of soil microbial processes. During a 120-day incubation experiment, we found that microbial biomass C and extracellular enzyme activity were highest in the mafic region. Microbial C limitation was highest in the mixed sedimentary region and lowest in the felsic region, which we propose is related to the strength of contrasting C stabilization mechanisms and varying C quality. None of the investigated regions and soil depths showed signs of nitrogen (N) limitation for microbial processes. Microbial phosphorus (P) limitation increased with soil depth but was similar across geochemical regions, indicating that subsoils in the investigated soils were depleted in rock-derived nutrients and are therefore dependent on efficient biological recycling of nutrients. Microbial C limitation was lowest in subsoils, indicating that subsoil microbes can significantly participate in C cycling and limit C storage if increased oxygen availability is prevalent. Using multivariable regressions, we demonstrate that microbial biomass C normalized to soil organic C content (MBCSOC) is controlled by soil geochemistry and substrate quality, while microbial biomass C normalized to soil weight (MBCSoil) is predominantly driven by resource distribution. We conclude that due to differences in resource availability, microbial processes in deeply weathered tropical rainforest soils greatly vary across geochemical regions which must be considered when assessing soil microbial processes in organic matter turnover models.
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Preprint
(851 KB)
Laurent K. Kidinda et al.
Interactive discussion


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RC1: 'Comments to authors', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Dec 2020
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
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RC2: 'Are all soil forming factors (except geology) kept constant?', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Feb 2021
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
Interactive discussion


-
RC1: 'Comments to authors', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Dec 2020
-
AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
-
AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
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RC2: 'Are all soil forming factors (except geology) kept constant?', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Feb 2021
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Laurent Kidinda Kidinda, 28 Mar 2021
Laurent K. Kidinda et al.
Laurent K. Kidinda et al.
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