Four years of free-air CO2 enrichment enhance soil C concentrations in a Chinese wheat field

Elevated atmospheric CO2 can influence soil C dynamics in agroecosystems. The effects of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) and N fertilization on soil organic C (Corg), dissolved organic C (DOC), microbial biomass C (Cmic) and soil basal respiration (SBR) were investigated in a Chinese wheat field after expose to elevated CO2 for four full years. The results indicated that elevated CO2 has stimulative effects on soil C concentrations regardless of N fertilization. Following the elevated CO2, the concentrations of Corg and SBR were increased at wheat jointing stage, and those of DOC and Cmic were enhanced obviously across the wheat jointing stage and the fallow period after wheat harvest. On the other hand, N fertilization did not significantly affect the content of soil C. Significant correlations were found among DOC, Cmic, and SBR in this study.