Contrasting response of organic carbon mineralisation to iron oxide addition under conditions of low and high microbial biomass in anoxic paddy soil

In contrast to what is observed in aerobic uplands, microbial biomass and the presence of electron acceptors, such as iron oxides, play a crucial role in regulating soil organic C (SOC) mineralisation in paddy soils. However, the related underlying mechanisms are still poorly explored. We conducted an anaerobic incubation study to investigate changes in CO(2)emissions from SOC and acetate (C-13-labeleld) in response to iron oxide (ferrihydrite and goethite) addition in chloroform-fumigated and unfumigated paddy soils. The iron oxides, as electron acceptors, increased CO(2)emissions from SOC with stronger impact under ferrihydrite than goethite addition. However, the acetate addition, as a preferable C source for reducing microbes, decreased SOC mineralisation and caused a negative priming effect. CO(2)emission from both acetate and SOC was affected by microbial biomass change. In the acetate-treated soil, goethite in the fumigated soil (i.e. high microbial biomass) increased CO(2)emissions from acetate, providing electron acceptors, and decreased CO(2)emissions from SOC. Ferrihydrite accepted electrons and adsorbed acetate, resulting in a slight decline in CO(2)emission from acetate. However, in the fumigated soil (i.e. low microbial biomass), both iron oxide additions reduced CO(2)emissions from acetate and SOC and likely the dominant role of both iron oxides shifted from being electron acceptors to being adsorbents, thus limiting acetate accessibility to microorganisms. The results suggest that microbial biomass is a key driver in shifting the effects of iron oxides on organic C mineralisation in anaerobic paddy soils.

Automated summary

Microbial biomass and electron acceptors like iron oxides play crucial roles in regulating soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization in paddy soils. Iron oxides increased CO(2) emissions from SOC, while acetate addition decreased SOC mineralization. Changes in microbial biomass affected CO(2) emissions from both acetate and SOC, highlighting the importance of microbial communities in the carbon cycling of anaerobic paddy soils.