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Patterns and drivers of soil microbial carbon use efficiency across soil depths in forest ecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Junmin Pei

    (Fudan University
    Shanghai Normal University)

  • Jinquan Li

    (Fudan University)

  • Yiqi Luo

    (Cornell University)

  • Matthias C. Rillig

    (Freie Universität Berlin
    Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB))

  • Pete Smith

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Wenjing Gao

    (Fudan University)

  • Bo Li

    (Fudan University
    Yunnan University)

  • Changming Fang

    (Fudan University)

  • Ming Nie

    (Fudan University)

Abstract

Subsoils below 30 cm store more than half of global soil carbon. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) serves as a key indicator of microbial control over soil carbon turnover, but the general patterns and drivers of microbial CUE across soil depths remain poorly understood. Here, we report a decreasing trend in microbial CUE with increasing soil depths through large-scale soil sampling across 60 sites spanning tropical to boreal forests. Using multiple analytical and statistical approaches complemented by experiments, we further identify depth-dependent drivers of microbial CUE. In the topsoil (0–10 cm), microbial CUE is primarily regulated by microbial diversity, whereas in deep subsoil (70–100 cm), it is predominantly driven by soil physicochemical protections. Our findings underscore the need to incorporate depth-specific microbial CUE drivers into carbon cycle models for more accurate predictions of whole-soil carbon storage and its feedback to climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Junmin Pei & Jinquan Li & Yiqi Luo & Matthias C. Rillig & Pete Smith & Wenjing Gao & Bo Li & Changming Fang & Ming Nie, 2025. "Patterns and drivers of soil microbial carbon use efficiency across soil depths in forest ecosystems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60594-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60594-8
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