Soil depth mediates contrasting effects of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs on microbial carbon use efficiency in a subtropical forest

Key Points

• Microbial carbon use efficiency significantly varies with changes in nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, tied closely to soil depth.
• A key finding was that nitrogen inputs increased microbial carbon use efficiency by 25% at 30 cm soil depth, contrasting with phosphorus effects.
• Assessment of microbial responses was carried out through soil samples collected at varying depths in a subtropical forest setting.
• These results highlight the importance of considering soil depth when managing nutrient inputs to optimize microbial efficiency.