Global patterns of nutrient limitation in soil microorganisms
Abstract
The availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is essential for soil microbial activity and growth, yet global patterns of N and P limitation in soil microbial metabolism remain largely unknown. We modeled ecoenzyme stoichiometry data from 5,259 field observations of natural ecosystems to assess microbial N and P limitation in global surface soils. We found that microbial P limitation, which was especially strong at low latitudes, was more prevalent globally than microbial N limitation, which prevailed in cold environments. We also found widespread N and P colimitation in soil microorganisms in the tropics, contradicting the long-held paradigm that P, and not N, is the primary limiting nutrient at low latitudes. This colimitation could be attributable to elevated microbial N demand for the synthesis of P-acquiring enzymes under P limitation. Upscaling (0.1 × 0.1° spatial resolution) suggested that soil microorganisms were limited by N and P in 39% and 57%, respectively, of natural terrestrial surface areas, with 21% of areas with N and P colimitation. As a global assessment of spatial variation in microbial N and P limitation, our results highlight the importance of N availability in supporting microbial P acquisition at low latitudes and improve our understanding of microbial nutrient limitation on a global scale.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (16)
Yongxing Cui
Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Shushi Peng
Matthias C. Rillig
Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin
Tessa Camenzind
Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, Consejo Superiorde Investigaciones Científicas,
Cesar Terrer
Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
Xiaofeng Xu
Maoyuan Feng
Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Mengjie Wang
Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Linchuan Fang
Key Laboratory of Green Utilization of Critical Non-metallic Mineral Resources, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology
Biao Zhu
Institute of Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Enzai Du
Daryl L. Moorhead
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo
Robert L. Sinsabaugh
Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
Josep Peñuelas
James J. Elser
Flathead Lake Biological Station, Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana