The stoichiometry of soil microbial biomass determines metabolic quotient of nitrogen mineralization

Soil nitrogen (N) mineralization is crucial for the sustainability of available soil N and hence ecosystem productivity and functioning. Metabolic quotient of N mineralization (Qmin), which is defined as net soil N mineralization per unit of soil microbial biomass N, reflects the efficiency of soil N mineralization. However, it is far from clear how soil Qmin changes and what are the controlling factors at the global scale. We compiled 871 observations of soil Qmin from 79 published articles across terrestrial ecosystems (croplands, forests, grasslands, and wetlands) to elucidate the global variation of soil Qmin and its predictors. Soil Qmin decreased from the equator to two poles, which was significant in the North Hemisphere. Soil Qmin correlated negatively with soil pH, total soil N, the ratio of soil carbon (C) to N, and soil microbial biomass C, and positively with mean annual temperature and C: N ratio of soil microbial biomass at a global scale. Soil microbial biomass, climate, and soil physical and chemical properties in combination accounted for 41% of the total variation of global soil Qmin. Among those predictors, C: N ratio of soil microbial biomass was the most important factor contributing to the variations of soil Qmin (the standardized coefficient = 0.39) within or across ecosystem types. This study emphasizes the critical role of microbial stoichiometry in soil N cycling, and suggests the necessity of incorporating soil Qmin into Earth system models to better predict N cycling under environmental change.