Nitrogen deposition raises temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition in subtropical forest

Subtropical ecosystems are strongly affected by nitrogen (N) deposition, impacting soil organic matter (SOM) availability and stocks. Here we aimed to reveal the effects of N deposition on i) the structure and functioning of microbial communities and ii) the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SOM decomposition. Phosphorus (P) limited evergreen forest in Guangdong Province, southeastern China, was selected, and N deposition (factor level: N (100 kg N ha−1 y−1 (NH4NO3)) and control (water), arranged into randomized complete block design (n = 3)) was performed during 2.5 y. After that soils from 0 to 20 cm were collected, analyzed for the set of parameters and incubated at 15, and 25, and 35 °C for 112 days. N deposition increased the microbial biomass N and the content of fungal and Gram-positive bacterial biomarkers; activities of beta-glucosidase (BG) and acid phosphatase (ACP) also increased showing the intensification of SOM decomposition. The Q10 of SOM decomposition under N deposition was 1.66 and increased by 1.4 times than under control. Xylosidase (BX), BG, and ACP activities increased with temperature under N but decreased with the incubation duration, indicating either low production and/or decomposition of enzymes. Activities of polyphenol-(PPO) and peroxidases (POD) were higher under N than in the control soil and were constant during the incubation showing the intensification of recalcitrant SOM decomposition. At the early incubation stage (10 days), the increase of Q10 of CO2 efflux was explained by the activities of BX, BQ, ACP, and POD and the quality of the available dissolved organic matter pool. At the later incubation stages (112 days), the drop of Q10 of CO2 efflux was due to the depletion of the labile organic substances and the shift of microbial community structure to K-strategists. Thus, N deposition decoupled the effects of extracellular enzyme activities from microbial community structure on Q10 of SOM decomposition in the subtropical forest soil.