Different Response of Soil Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency in Compound of Feldspathic Sandstone and Sand

Abstract

The stoichiometry of efficient soil microbial carbon use is a sensitive index for measuring changes in soil quality and plays a crucial role in research on ecological stoichiometry in the soil nutrient cycle. To further understand the effect of feldspathic sandstone and sand compound ratios on microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE), we simulated the field conditions of the feldspathic sandstone-sand compound layer in the Mu Us sandy land and analyzed the soil C:N:P ratio, microbial biomass, extracellular enzyme activity, and microbial carbon use efficiency in soils with different compound ratios. The results demonstrated that an increase in the feldspathic sandstone content had insignificant effects on the soil C:N:P ratio. The maximum values for microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) were observed at compound ratios of 1:5 and 1:2, respectively. Calculations of microbial carbon use efficiency and vector analysis revealed that the microbial carbon use efficiency increased as the feldspathic sandstone content increased, P limitation existed in all compound soils, and soil with a 1:1 compound ratio may be substantially less limited. In conclusion, our research indicated that adding feldspathic sandstone to sand improved soil quality, and the compound ratio affected soil microorganisms; nevertheless, it did not significantly change soil nutrient restriction. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of desert land resources.