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Microbial-derived carbon is a major contributor to rhizosphere soil organic carbon accumulation in alpine coniferous forests
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  • Qitong Wang,
  • Ziliang Zhang,
  • Xiaomin Zhu,
  • Zhanfeng Liu,
  • Na Li,
  • Juan Xiao,
  • Qing Liu,
  • Huajun Yin
Qitong Wang
Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Ziliang Zhang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Xiaomin Zhu
Chengdu Institute of Biology
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Zhanfeng Liu
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Juan Xiao
China West Normal University, Nanchong 637000, China
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Qing Liu
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
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Huajun Yin
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Root activity creates a unique microbial hotspot in the rhizosphere and profoundly regulates soil carbon (C) dynamics, but empirical assessments of the soil microbial carbon pump (MCP) and associated ecological consequences on soil C storage based on insight of the rhizosphere remains lack, especially for different root functional modules. Based on the assessment of MCP efficacy in the rhizosphere of absorptive and transport roots, we found that rhizosphere MCP efficacy was ~ 60%. The RMCP-efficacy was 26.5% higher in the rhizosphere of absorptive roots than in that of transport roots. The plant-derived C contributed only 5.71 ~ 10.48% of the increased SOC in the rhizosphere. These observations suggest that the soil MCP is intensely stimulated in the rhizosphere, especially in the rhizosphere of absorptive roots. Our study provides novel and direct empirical evidence for the active soil MCP functions in SOC sequestration from the perspective of the rhizosphere.