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Abstract:
Despite several lines of observational evidence, there is a lack of consensus on whether higher fungal:bacterial (F:B) ratios directly cause higher soil carbon (C) storage. We
employed RNA sequencing, protein profiling and isotope tracer techniques to evaluate
whether differing F:B ratios are associated with differences in C storage. A mesocosm
13C labeled foliar litter decomposition experiment was performed in two soils that were
similar in their physico-chemical properties but differed in microbial community structure,
specifically their F:B ratio (determined by PLFA analyses, RNA sequencing and protein
profiling; all three corroborating each other). Following litter addition, we observed a
consistent increase in abundance of fungal phyla; and greater increases in the fungal
dominated soil; implicating the role of fungi in litter decomposition. Litter derived 13C
in respired CO2 was consistently lower, and residual 13C in bulk SOM was higher in
high F:B soil demonstrating greater C storage potential in the F:B dominated soil. We
conclude that in this soil system, the increased abundance of fungi in both soils and
the altered C cycling patterns in the F:B dominated soils highlight the significant role of
fungi in litter decomposition and indicate that F:B ratios are linked to higher C storage
potential.
