Conclusion
In the present study, we were able to show in a subtropical tree
diversity experiment (BEF-China) that soil microbial biomass and
respiration show a fine spatial pattern in the tree-tree interaction
zone, both vertically and horizontally. Whereas aggregated soil samples
were not affected by tree-tree interactions, tree-tree interactions
ranged from overyielding close to Liquidambar formosana to
underyielding close to Sapindus saponaria . Our findings suggest
that tree-tree interactions are driving soil functioning when zooming to
the appropriate spatial scale. Therefore, in order to understand
relationships between trees and soil processes, future research should
focus on fine-scale spatial variability (Eisenhauer et al. 2023).