Progressive N limitation of plant response to elevated CO2: a microbiological perspective

A major uncertainty in predicting long-term ecosystem C balance is whether stimulation of net primary production will be sustained in future atmospheric CO2 scenarios. Immobilization of nutrients (N in particular) in plant biomass and soil organic matter (SOM) provides negative feedbacks to plant growth and may lead to progressive N limitation (PNL) of plant response to CO2 enrichment. Soil microbes mediate N availability to plants by controlling litter decomposition and N transformations as well as dominating biological N fixation. CO2-induced changes in C inputs, plant nutrient demand and water use efficiency often have interactive and contrasting effects on microbes and microbially mediated N processes. One critical...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Journal Citation; Tags: Biological N fixation, Ecosystem N retention, Elevated CO2, Mycorrhizae, N limitation for plants and microbes, All tags... N mineralization, Plant and Soil, Plant–microbial competition for N, Priming effect, Soil organic matter, Springer Netherlands, Fewer tags