Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition restructures decomposing microbial communities, altering SOM molecular composition, but not molecular complexity or diversity

Abstract

Soil organic matter (SOM) consists of diverse biochemical constituents, spanning a spectrum of chemical complexity, and the relative abundance of these substrates influences microbial metabolism and soil carbon persistence. However, mechanistic controls governing these processes and how they may be affected by environmental change remains incomplete. As such, this study aims to assess (1) the molecular-level changes that occur across stages of root decomposition, from undecayed plant root litter to 1-year decomposed root litter, to mineral SOM and (2) how these changes are altered by anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition by using SOM biochemical and microbiome datasets and a long-term field experiment in the Upper Great Lakes Region of North America. N deposition did not significantly alter undecomposed or 1-year decomposed root litter, but did alter decomposing microbial communities and mineral SOM biochemical composition, specifically in lignin- and lipid-derived compounds. Taken together, this restructuring of microbial communities and alteration of SOM biochemistry likely contributed to the previously observed reduction in SOM decomposition.