DOI: 10.5061/dryad.h9w0vt4vn
title: Data from: Coarse woody debris decomposition along an elevation gradient alleviates soil microbial P limitation but intensifies C limitation at Wuyishan National Park

description: Soil microorganisms play a vital role in biogeochemical cycles by
 transforming plant residues into soil organic matter through catabolic
 processes, thereby significantly influencing carbon (C) storage. Changes
 in microbial metabolic limitations serve as important indicators of shifts
 in resource availability and microbial survival strategies. Coarse woody
 debris (CWD) decomposition is a stable source of C and nutrients. This
 process significantly affects microbial metabolism and is influenced by
 factors like nutrient availability, vegetation, and climate. However, the
 effect of CWD decomposition on microbial metabolic limitations,
 particularly across diverse environmental gradients, remains poorly
 understood. Our study investigated the impact of different decay classes
 of CWD on soil microbial metabolic limitation along an elevational
 gradient in Wuyishan National Park. it examines changes in soil
 properties, microbial metabolic limitation and enzyme activities during
 CWD decomposition. We observed increased C limitation and decreased
 phosphorus (P) limitation in soil microorganisms during CWD decomposition.
 These trends showed consistent characteristics along the elevational
 gradient, with soil microbial C limitation gradually increasing and P
 limitation decreasing as elevation increased. This process was regulated
 by soil pH and oxidase activity. Our study demonstrated that the presence
 of CWD could modify the soil environment, allowing microorganisms to
 adjust their nutrient acquisition strategies, a process that would
 influence soil C turnover. In conclusion, resource constraints during CWD
 decomposition induced microbial metabolic trade-offs, and shifts in these
 trade-off strategies may influence soil C storage. This study offers new
 insights into the interactions among plant residues, soil, and
 microorganisms, thereby enhancing our understanding of soil C cycling in
 the context of global climate change.
description: # Coarse woody debris decomposition along an elevation gradient alleviates
 soil microbial P limitation but intensifies C limitation at Wuyishan
 National Park. Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.h9w0vt4vn **Description of the
 data and file structure** Our experimental areas are situated within
 Wuyishan National Park, Fujian Province, China (27°330′-27°54′N,
 117°270′-117°51′E). The area hosts a well-preserved subtropical forest
 ecosystem at the same latitude. The area experiences a mean annual
 temperature (MAT) of 15.2 ℃ and a mean annual precipitation (MAP) of 2000
 mm. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil
 Taxonomy Classification System, the soil is predominantly categorized as
 Ultisols and Inceptisols. The park features five distinct vegetation types
 distributed along an elevation gradient: evergreen broad-leaf forest (EBF,
 650m), coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (CBF, 1340m), coniferous
 forest (CF, 1980m), subalpine dwarf forest (DF, 2050m), and alpine meadow
 (AM, 2150m). The dominant plant species are Castanopsis eyrie in evergreen
 broad-leaf forest (EBF), Castanopsis eyrie and Pinus taiwanensis in CBF,
 Pinus taiwanensis in coniferous forest (CF), Symplocos paniculate in dwarf
 forest (DF), and Calamagrostis brachytricha in alpine meadow (AM). This
 study focused on four vegetation types: EBF, CBF, CF, and DF. Experimental
 sites were established in August 2020 (Table S1). At each elevation, four
 replicate plots measuring 100 × 100 m were set up, totaling 16 plots along
 the elevation gradient. Our field study was licensed. Within each plot,
 fallen wood (logs with a diameter &gt;10 cm) was identified and classified
 into five decay classes (DC) based on a combination of methods from
 (Carmona et al. 2002) and (Mäkinen et al. 2006). Detailed classification
 characteristics are presented in Table S2. For each decay class, four
 fallen logs of the dominant tree species were selected. Soil cores were
 collected from mineral soil layers using a sterilized soil corer (4 cm
 inner diameter) to a depth of 0-10 cm on both sides of each fallen log,
 with three sub-soil samples taken on each side. These six sub-soil samples
 were combined to form a composite sample. Additionally, control soil
 samples (CK) were collected, each comprising 12 sub-soil samples randomly
 obtained from areas at least 2 m away from fallen wood. In total, 96 soil
 samples were collected (4 vegetation types × 6 decay classes, including
 the control × 4 replicates). The collected soil samples were immediately
 sieved (2 mm) to remove soil fauna, rocks, and plant roots, placed in zip
 bags, and transported in coolers to the laboratory at Nanjing Forestry
 University. Soil samples were then air-dried or stored at 4°C and -80°C
 for subsequent analyses. data.csv | Column name | Description | Units |
 Data format | Missing data code | | :--------------- |
 :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :----------- | :---------- | :---------------- | | Decay Class (DC) | The decay class of CWD | - | Category | - | | Elevation | Elevation gradient | - | Category | - | | pH | Soil pH | - | Number | - | | SWC | Soil water content | % | Number | - | | SOC | Soil organic carbon | g/kg | Number | - | | DOC | Soil dissolved organic carbon | mg/kg | Number | - | | AN | Soil available nitrogen | mg/kg | Number | - | | AP | Soil available phosphorus | mg/kg | Number | - | | DOC:AN | The ratio of DOC to AN | - | Number | - | | DOC:AP | The ratio of DOC to AP | - | Number | - | | AN:AP | The ratio of AN to AP | - | Number | - | | F | Soil fungal biomass | copy/g | Number | - | | B | Soil bacterial biomass | copy/g | Number | - | | F:B | The ratio of fungal biomass to bacterial biomass | - | Number | - | | vecL | Vector length quantifies the relative microbial C vs. nutrient limitation; increasing length indicates greater relative C limitation. | - | Number | - | | vecA | The vector angle represents the relative phosphorus vs. nitrogen limitation in soil microbes. | - | Number | - | | Enzyme C | Carbon-acquiring hydrolase activities | nmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - | | Enzyme N | Nitrogen-acquiring hydrolase activities | nmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - | | Enzyme P | Phosphorus-acquiring hydrolase activities | nmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - | | Enzyme CN | Soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry | - | Number | - | | Enzyme CP | Soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry | - | Number | - | | Enzyme NP | Soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry | - | Number | - | | Oxidase | Oxidase activities | µmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ | Number | - |