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Microorganisms
Volume 13
Issue 5
10.3390/microorganisms13051146
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

The Impact of Litter from Different Belowground Organs of Phragmites australis on Microbial-Mediated Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in a Lacustrine Wetland

by
Chong Chen
,
Yong Wang
*,
Liu Yang
,
Yongen Min
,
Keming Yue
,
Sitong Lu
,
Hongfeng Bian
*,
Xue Wang
and
Leilei Zhang
Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(5), 1146; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051146
Submission received: 13 April 2025 / Revised: 12 May 2025 / Accepted: 15 May 2025 / Published: 16 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Microbiology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Although belowground litter decomposition critically influences lacustrine wetland soil carbon dynamics, the organ-specific microbial mechanisms driving soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation remain unclear. Existing research has predominantly focused on aboveground litter, leaving a significant gap in the understanding of how roots and rhizomes differentially regulate carbon cycling through microbial community assembly and survival strategies. This study took Phragmites australis (a plant characteristic of lacustrine wetland) as the research object and examined how decomposing belowground litter from different organs affects microbial-mediated SOC accumulation through a one-year in situ field incubation in Jingyuetan National Forest Park, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China. Our findings reveal that root litter exhibited the highest decomposition rate, which was accelerated by intermittent flooding, reaching up to 1.86 times that of rhizome. This process enriched r-strategist microbial taxa, intensified homogeneous selection, and expanded niche width, directly promoting SOC accumulation. Rhizome litter decomposition enhanced dispersal limitation, promoted K-strategist microbial dominance, and indirectly modulated SOC through soil acidification. Mixed-litter treatments significantly enhanced SOC accumulation (up to three times higher than single-litter treatments) through synergistic nutrient release (non-additive effects < 0.04) and reinforced microbial network interactions. SOC accumulation varied significantly with the flooding regime as follows: non-flooded > intermittent flooding > permanent flooding. This study provides new insights into the microbially driven mechanisms of plant-organ-specific decomposition in the carbon cycling of wetland ecosystems.
Keywords: belowground plant litter; community assembly; soil microorganisms; soil organic carbon; survival strategies belowground plant litter; community assembly; soil microorganisms; soil organic carbon; survival strategies

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Chen, C.; Wang, Y.; Yang, L.; Min, Y.; Yue, K.; Lu, S.; Bian, H.; Wang, X.; Zhang, L. The Impact of Litter from Different Belowground Organs of Phragmites australis on Microbial-Mediated Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in a Lacustrine Wetland. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 1146. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051146

AMA Style

Chen C, Wang Y, Yang L, Min Y, Yue K, Lu S, Bian H, Wang X, Zhang L. The Impact of Litter from Different Belowground Organs of Phragmites australis on Microbial-Mediated Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in a Lacustrine Wetland. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(5):1146. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051146

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chen, Chong, Yong Wang, Liu Yang, Yongen Min, Keming Yue, Sitong Lu, Hongfeng Bian, Xue Wang, and Leilei Zhang. 2025. "The Impact of Litter from Different Belowground Organs of Phragmites australis on Microbial-Mediated Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in a Lacustrine Wetland" Microorganisms 13, no. 5: 1146. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051146

APA Style

Chen, C., Wang, Y., Yang, L., Min, Y., Yue, K., Lu, S., Bian, H., Wang, X., & Zhang, L. (2025). The Impact of Litter from Different Belowground Organs of Phragmites australis on Microbial-Mediated Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in a Lacustrine Wetland. Microorganisms, 13(5), 1146. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051146

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